Denominationalism

[Mary]

Right now I am wondering if you realize that you just clearly described something that Jesus outright said that He hates. Nicolaitans. Nicolaitans is not a race or nation of people. Those referred to by Jesus as the Nicolaitans in Revelations 2 verses 6 and 15, are people who try to conquer or rule (dominate) over other members of the body of Christ. If you do a little bit of simple research you will find that the word Nicolaitans is a compound word derived from two Greek words as follows:

The root of the word Nicolaitans comes from Greek nikao, to conquer or overcome, and laos, which means people and which the word laity comes from. The two words together especially means the destruction of the people and refers to the earliest form of what we call a priestly order or clergy which later on in church history divided people and allowed for leadership other than those led by the spirit of the risen Lord. A good translation of Nicolaitan would be "those who prevail over the people." This clerical system later developed into the papal hierarchy of priests and clergy lording over the flock.

What I can find out about the Nicolaitans is that it is "supposed" that they indulged in licentious and immoral practices. I don't know for sure, and it seems that no-one does. Usually God is very clear, but sometimes His word seems obscure. Why? What it tells me is this: sometimes members of the Church can clearly indulge in practices that God hates. This means me too. I know what some of those hated practices are, but not all. This tells me that I need to also ask myself am I doing what God loves? I may be able to put "no" in all the boxes next to 'things God hates' , but can I put "yes" next to things God loves?

If what you say about Nicolaitans is true, how does that reconcile with what God says later in the chapter ?: Rev 2: 26 -27

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

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Chris,
a metaphor is a comparison between two things that would normally seem incomparable. Specifically the comparison is between something physical and something metaphysical, so that the physical can provide understanding/clarity for the metaphysical. The metaphor of the physical body and the Body of Christ (the Church) was not started by me.

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Chris I agree with you that in many churches leadership is abused, misused and also neither recognised nor understood.

There are threads in this forum that discuss this issue and address your comments. That is why I chose to make a more direct "attack" on your implications. When you use qualifiers such as "best" and "well" ( as in loving people well, and best servant) you imply an inverse hierarchy of "bad, good, better and best" servants, and also that there are measures of love.

When I read what you have written, here, in other posts, and on your website, I think and feel that what you are saying is this: "look at me, I have given up everything and become a homeless man for the sake of Christ, and therefore I am a better servant than you are, a better follower of Christ, and I love people well - better than you do."

I'm sorry you won't answer my questions. I answered yours. I know my questions are confronting, but aren't we told to be ready to give an answer for why and what we believe?