The man who is more universally known at Christmas time than Jesus.

Yes, he’s the one who gives gifts to the good boys and girls and a lump of coal to the bad ones. The man that says “Be good, or else nothing for you next year”. No wonder the kids are scared of him!

Saint Nick – the man with the obedience list!

Did you know that his predecessors are actually called out in the Bible? By Name?

They were called the “Nicolaitans.”

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

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

The word "Nicolaitans" means "victorious over the people." It comes from the familiar word "nike", which is popular in our day because of Nike brand name shoes. The meaning of the word can be better seen in the phrase: "to conquer the laity" (from "nikos" - to conquer; and "laos" - where our word "laity" comes from). Laity means "the people, or the public".

Sadly, even the church world has adapted the very thing that Jesus said he hates.

What? You might ask.

Let’s go back in time. The early church had no symbolic Santa Clause among them. They had no one promising to hand out superficial salvation, spiritual gifts or church positions to those who obeyed or were “good”.

The only gift-giver they recognized was the Holy Ghost! And the only salvation they knew of was through Jesus Christ and His ultimate sacrifice.

However, once the church opened the door to their spiritual Santa Clause, he and all his little elves marched right in and took over!

The church’s first Santa Clause was Ignatius, from Antioch. He was elevated to the office of Bishop from among his piers. You can do a google.com search on him to learn much more about him and his Nicolaitans deed and doctrines, but let us just summarize some of the key things he taught regarding the Office of a Bishop:

“As therefore the Lord does nothing without the Father, . . . so do ye, neither presbyter, nor deacon, nor layman, do anything without the bishop."—Ignatius to the Magnesians, Chap. VII

“The bishop sits in the place of God” — Ignatius to the Magnesians, Chap. VI

  "And do ye also reverence your bishop as Christ himself. . . . For what is the bishop but one who beyond all others possesses all power and authority, so far as it is possible for man to possess it, who according to his ability has been made an imitator of the Christ of God?” — Ignatius, To the Trallians, Chap. VII

“Let no man do anything connected with the church without the bishop.” — Ignatius to the Smyrnians, Chap. VIII.

"He who honors the bishop has been honored by God; he who does anything without the knowledge of the bishop, does in reality serve the devil." — Ignatius to the Smyrnians, Chap. VIII, Honour the Bishop

  "Nor is there any one in the church greater than the bishop…He who honors the bishop shall be honored by God…Let the laity be subject to the deacons; the deacons to the presbyters; the presbyters to the bishops."—Ignatius to the Smyrnians, Chap. IX

“The more anyone observes that a bishop is discreetly silent, the more he should stand in fear of him. Obviously, anyone whom the Master of the household puts in charge of His domestic affairs, ought to be received by us in the same spirit as He who has charged him with this duty. Plainly, then, one should look upon the bishop as upon the Lord Himself.“— Ignatius of Antioch to the Ephesians, Chap. VI

Once the Office of an elevated Bishop was established, and ruling power was given to the person in the office, the rest is history. Just read about the early formation of Roman Catholic Church and the events that transpired during the Dark Ages and you will find where the spirit of hierarchy will lead to.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. We've all seen that happen before.

So how does the Nicolaitan doctrine live and breathe among the Institutional Church today? As Bruce De Lay notes in his Doctrine of the Nicolaitans article, “Anyone who uses their leadership position to manipulate others is bumping up against the thing Jesus hates. You see, if I can get you to feel as if you must please me in order to be accepted by me, then I can use my acceptance or my rejection to control your life. The Lord wants us to be under His control, no one else’s. But even He doesn’t use such tactics of manipulation. He wants willing obedience, not contrived.”

In the Institutionalized Church, there are many leaders who operate by the spirit of the Nicolaitans. They will try to get you to become obligated to them by doing some niceties for you.

Don’t fall for it and don’t come under the influence of the Nicolaitan spirit. Your obedient service to God is what is most important. Forget about man-made lists and promises of reward or position. The only list you need your name on is found in the Lamb’s book of life. The only position you need to take is a humble position before the Lord.

The big fat fraud in the funny looking jumpsuit didn’t shed his blood for you and his hand-outs are cheap imitations!

But Jesus did die for you. Chose Him! He's the real thing!