In Christ’s letters to the churches as given to John, we see that twice the Nicolaitans are mentioned.

~Revelations 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

~Revelations 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

This interested me. When God says He hates something, we should take note, right? The Word tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that all of Scripture:

1. has been given to us by the inspiration of God,
2. is profitable for doctrine
3. for reproof
4. for correction
5. for instruction in righteousness
6. so we may be complete
7. and thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

~2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (16) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (17)

Notice that no where is it recorded that we are to glean from church tradition or the doctrines of the magisterium! In fact, it is quite the opposite. Christ, Himself, said that He hates the doctrine of the Nicolaitans! The word Nicolaitan is interpreted: Niko “to conquer, to overthrow,” and laos, “the people or laity.” So Christ said He hated the doctrine of those who conquered the people/laity! Somewhere in the church ages, a heretical doctrine arose of separation between those that were preaching and those that were not. Furthermore, it seems that this conquering over the laity placed the preachers in a special category – a hierarchy, if you will. Apparently, this “doctrine” must have been underway while Peter was yet living because he spoke of something similar:

~1 Peter 5:2-3 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (2) Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (3)

What a prime example of the hierarchy of the catholic church. They have a semblance of feeding the flock of God but it is not with the Word of God. It is through magisterium, sacred tradition and THEN the Scriptures IF the Scriptures coincided with the aforementioned! Secondly, the catholic hierarchy has forced its membership to follow the dogmas and “sacred” traditions so as to keep them under bondage. This bondage is exactly what Christ came to free mankind from! I never felt free in Christ when I was a catholic. But I did feel as though I was under bondage. I felt a heavy weight upon my shoulders just as Christian did in Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. Every catholic should read this book. It is the book most sold next to the Bible. (John Bunyan uses an allegory style of writing to portary a lost sinner who finds salvation without any influence from various religions but by using the Word of God.) Thirdly, the catholic hierarchy most certainly fits in this description of being “lords over God’s heritage”! This is the conquering of the laity that Jesus said He hates! There is no head over the church but Christ.

~1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

~Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

~Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

If Peter were the first pope, then he would have made mention of this hierarchy in his letters. But instead, Peter stated that he was an elder just like the other elders.

~1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

Instead of heeding God’s Word as exhorted in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the catholic church has taken the doctrines of the Nicolaitans and lorded over the laity – adding burden after burden of dogma, sacraments, rules, etc. The poor catholic doesn’t know whether he is coming or going when it comes to his salvation. He does not have peace but an immense burden of sin on his shoulders. How tragic this is when Christ is so willing to give that peace which goes beyond understanding!

~Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Do you have that peace, dear catholic? I do not speak up against catholic doctrine because I hate the catholics! I speak up because I once was in darkness and served the catholic church as it was entrenched in me from an early age. I served out of ignorance. But the blessed Word of God has been given to us to instruct us of all doctrine. The catholic church has incorporated various dogmas into its religion and added extra doctrine that is not spoken of in the Bible thus nullifying 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

The catholic church preaches heresy and goes against the Word of God in many areas. Its hierarchy has forced its membership (laity) to submit to them or else be condemned. I do not speak lies but back all that I write on this blog with the Scriptures, the Truth! I do this so that maybe one searching catholic will read here one day and will realize that he has been led astray by the false teachers of the catholic church.

I have been cussed out and spoken evil of in the last couple of weeks by catholics who post comments at my blog. The comments are not posted because some are vile. They do not encourage the lost to seek but instead support heresy. Some accuse me of being an enemy of the catholic church. This comment reminded me of:

~Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

If I have stirred the pot, then I say, “Good!” I hope and pray that one catholic will be freed from the lies of the catholic church and will be set free as Christ wants us to be set free!

~John 8:32-36 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (32) They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? (33) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (34) And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. (35) If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (36)

The catholic church would have you believe that salvation is only found in the church. However, Jesus taught that it was Him, the Son, that shall make you free! And in the same breath, Jesus provides assurance of this “Ye shall be free indeed.” No doubts, no wondering, no purgatory, nothing more, nothing less!