Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
We can see that the words about the Nicolaitans was to the church in Ephesus. They were one church but the Nicolaitans were most likely a sect within following (Acts 6:5). It appears as yet they had not broken away from the locality. The Nicolaitans once they left the ground of locality and became a religio-political entity, became the Roman Catholics.
Clergy-laity distinction is a distortion of the truth. Then all churches that practice that are a distortion of Christianity, or what Lee would call a degradation.
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There is no reason to speculate about who or what the Nicolaitans were or taught. This is the error of Witness Lee and others. The New Testament makes it very clear --
Rev 2:6But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev 2:14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. 15So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.
The teachings of the Nicolaitans are like unto the teachings of Balaam, a false prophet, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication.
These can also be considered works — eating things sacrificed unto idols, making others eat things sacrificed unto idols, committing fornication, and making the children of Israel commit fornication.
For example, forcing the 419 elders to sign a loyalty pledge is a form of spiritual fornication. As you have agreed, this is the same thing that Paul condemned when he said “you say you are of Paul, or of Peter”. Our loyalty pledge is to Jesus, when you give a pledge to anyone else that is spiritual fornication, which the Lord hates.
Now if you purchase the ministry from this “master builder” who you have pledged to that is “eating things sacrificed unto idols”.
Witness Lee has not presented himself as merely fellowship from a brother in Christ. No, he is the “wise master builder” that everyone must pledge their loyalty to, he is the “Minister of the Age”, a person who has been “deified” as a result of his years and years in the presence of God (like Moses). This is not just fellowship from a brother in Christ, no it is the “unique ministry of the wise master builder for the accomplishment of God’s eternal purpose in this age”. As you say "clergy laity is a distortion of the truth". This distinction that Witness Lee makes concerning himself and his ministry is a distortion of the truth.
These are the teachings and works of the Nicolaitans, these are things that Jesus hates.