Have you read about the “Nicolaitians” that were written about in the book of Revelations?
Jesus despised their doctrine and hated their deeds. Why did Jesus have such an adamant reaction towards them and hated their deeds? Jesus said in Revelation 2:6 (NKJV) 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitians, which I also hate.
Nicolas was one of the first chosen deacons of the Early Church. Once chosen these first deacons were presented by the people to the apostles, who laid hands on them installing and officially ordaining them into the deaconate. Previously Nicolas had practiced in other religions. Acts 6:5 tells us that Nicolas was “proselyte of Antioch” which means that he was not born a Jew but had made the choice to convert from paganism to Judaism. He went on to experience a second conversion, where he went from Judaism to Christianity. Now Nicolas came from deep pagan roots and very active in occult activities. When he converted to Judaism to Christianity.
According to the writings of the Early Church leaders, Nicolas was teaching a doctrine of compromise, saying it was not essential to totally separate between Christianity and the practices of occult paganism. From these early records it shows that Nicolas of Antioch was immersed in occultism, Judaism and Christianity. He had no problem practicing and teaching all of these belief systems and saw no reason why believers could not continue to fellowship with those still practicing the black magic of the Roman Empire and its many mystery cults. A Gentile who converted to Christianity found it very hard to stay away from all the pagan influence in the cities of Ephesus and Pergamos because paganism religion and activities were the center of life in these cities. It is apparent that occultism was a major force that warred against the Early Church and I believe still does today.
The Nicolaitians “doctrines” and “deeds” were only mentioned in connection with the churches in the occult and pagan cities of Ephesus and Pergamos. Their doctrine taught that a person did not need to be very adamant about separating form the world in order to be a Christian. Ultimately it was ok to have one foot in Christianity and the other foot in the world. We see this as very evident in todays churches. Christians having one foot in church and one foot in the world. They don’t want to give up their worldly ways to totally surrender to God and let Him have His way. Instead, they continue to hold onto the worlds ways while God is waiting for them to surrender to Him.
This Nicolaitian doctrine and deeds that Jesus “hated” led to a very weakened version of Christianity that was powerless and without conviction. It strongly produced a defeated worldly version of Christianity with no effect. This kind of teaching, doctrine would result in nothing but total defeat for its Christ followers. Why? Because when believers allow sin and compromise to be active in their spiritual lives, it will drain them of all the power that the finished work of the Cross provides and robs them of the power of the Holy Spirit that is already present in a follower of Jesus Christ.
Can you think of any current area in your life where you have allowed yourself to be compromised by the ways of the world? If so, has it blocked you from God’s power fully working in your life, in your current situations? What can you do to get back on track? Repent! Repent means to go in another direction, to change direction. Ask God to forgive you for compromising to the worlds ways, tell Him that you don’t want to go through life with one foot in the church and another foot in the world anymore. Tell Him that you want to completely break free from the world’s ways and influence and you are going to choose to give yourself completely to His cause. To live in a way that pleases Him and experience His power in your life everyday! Turn from the world and run to your heavenly Father who loves you, who sent His only Son to die just for you so you can live a life of abundance.
John 10:10 (NKJV) 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
