I have heard reputable religious scholars describe the Nicolaitan problem as the introduction of a prideful “lording it over” on the part of those in leadership, thereby placing a human mediator between the people and God and misplacing proper focus.

Christ alone is our mediator.

It seems to me that the balance of the article you refer to contradicts your point (attributed to Barnes) about Nicolaism.  There are only two ways to attribute Nicolaism to a heresy on clergy: 1) to use the etymology of the name as a description of the heresy which is most likely an exegetical error or 2) to allegorize the passage in Revelation from a strictly dispensational viewpoint which is probably a hermeneutical error.  From writings by those closest to the issue, including Clement, it appears that Nicolas was caught up in the Gnostic controversy involving either aestheticism or hedonism in regards to marriage.

Your statement, “The early church had no such separation of powers or hierarchy or status within the body of Christ.” is a bit unclear, because “separation of powers”, “hierarchy”, and “status” are three very different ideas.  In any case, it is not true that there was no leadership or concept of authority in the early church.  The discussion in scripture on leadership, especially in regards to church offices, emphaiszes the quality and integrity of the leadership rather than the structure of the leadership.

As one who has felt the sting of abusive leadership, I can say that no leadership is just as damaging as bad leadership.  All leaderless movements eventually end up with bad leaders who assert control by charisma if not by divine right.  Personally I think the biblical ideas of spiritual authority and the priesthood of the believer need to be understood properly and kept in balance to have a healthy church.
  
Having said all that, I agree with what I understand is  your main point  – that serving as a Christian leader does not allow for any special status or distinction from others.  So, I am not trying to start and endless debate on the nature of christian leadership and the history or church structure; just that the passage in Revelation 2 is probably out of context when discussing spiritual abuse.

And what any of those three things have to do with SGM, I don’t know.

Except that SGM largely shares the (nonsensical) conviction that “where the church goes, there goes the nation” – visit any SGM church before the 08 election, read between the lines of the pastors’ sermons before religiously loaded political decisions and you know what I mean. “Liberalism” surely is NOT what’s wrong with the movement. Cause it’s not in it to begin with.

And so.. that post was really beside the point.

Stunned

If only we’d spent less time at the cross and more time with our actual risen Lord.  Needless to say, I believe the Bible’s message on the cross.  However, I do not believe it is spiritually healthy to constantly remember Jesus in that situation.  I would rather remember Mary and Mary running to Peter to say, “We’ve seen the Lord!  He has risen!”  Or the last time He stood with His disciples before He ascended, saying that they should wait for the Holy Spirit, that He was not going to leave them alone.  Oh, what comfort!

I remember one Mother’s Day where the whole message at church was on sin.  Our close friends left after that day.  We were still embroiled in the fog of control and sin searching, so we didn’t understand until later why these friends left.  They had finally had enough of only hearing about sin, not Jesus.

I am content with allowing the Holy Spirit to convict me when necessary of my hidden faults and weaknesses.  He is always so gentle when He does.  His heart is for there to be less of me and more of Him.  It is really very simple.  It is my one goal in life – that the older I get, the more people look at me and see Jesus instead of this little ole’ tweety bird. That can only happen through the Lord’s constant presence in daily life.

My fear is that, as I enter the local church arena again, I will loose this understanding because “religion” will interfere.  I’ve thought long and hard about going “in love” and taking my time with the trust issue.  But what of the old issue of man-pleasing?  Will I be able to sit through worship without needing to get up and leave, as I remember all the times I didn’t worship in spirit and truth while in pdi? Can I sit through a forty minute sermon without thinking, “wait, the whole church is suppose to be edifying each other!”  because I’ve seen that in action through the few years we house churched?

I don’t mean to make this site all about a tiny, scared yellow canary, but I feel like I’m this experiment waiting to happen.  I’m sure there must be others reading who don’t post but feel the same fears I am dealing with.  Not to be to melodramatic, but I am getting ready to revisit the “scene of the crime” so to speak.  I do feel the support you all are giving me, like I have this small circle of saints praying.  Thank you so much. 

Sorry if I’m making the Refuge my personal diary – ugh – it’s just that I feel like I’m suppose to share this, and what happens as I step out.  It;s part of moving on – which, by the way, I should be posting under that header instead of  Metro Life.   Whoops.

Aw well, it seems appropriate to end this self-absorbed post with “STAY TUNED…SAME BIRD TIME, SAME BIRD STATION.”   Ha!   Oh, and Metro Life, I am praying for your upcoming family meeting.  God be with you, and His grace cover you all.  He is faithful and good. 

The last 4-5 years we were in SGM we were downcast and disappointed there was NO mention of the remembrance of the Resurrection on the Easter Sunday (the pastor of our very large east coast church simply continued on with the series he was currently teaching from).Sometimes we would sing 1 or 2 “Easter” songs but no scripture or remembrance of the Resurrections account was given–’ Ignoring’ Easter seemed so ……. unnatural. Our spirits were anticpating celebrating with fellow Believers the remembrance of the Resurrection, the Victory Christ brought— but apparently,’the powers that be’ had decided their continuation of given series was paramount.—- In the last year  and 1/2 SGM pastors have received much communication from departing members about their concern on not hearing preaching or rare recognition on the Resurrection of Christ. We expect that now there will be more SGM churches celebrating the Resurrection on Easter Sunday—–we pray this is more than a checklist—This we know: Gods Word and account of  the Resurrection joyfully proclaims the Victory,Hope, and Power of the King of  Kings…

   He is Risen—- He is Risen, indeed!!

Remember when Thomas Paine wrote, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”?  Jesus says, “Through my death I gave you liberty (from our sin nature)!”  I am going to celebrate this Easter (my first in a church meeting for years) that Jesus also rose and ascended in order to make our Hope alive.  I lay my liberty at His feet and say, “Lord, I am YOUR slave!” 

Isn’t it amazing that He calls us friends?

To me, your statements were as clear and sweet as any tweety bird’s song.

I thank you for the insight.

Matt. 10:16

I know Canary very well. I don’t think her civil war reference is speaking to good and evil per se, but specifically to legalism vs liberty in Christ and to authority. All analogies break down when dissected, but there are parallels between the culture wars and the “war” within God’s Church.

Perhaps you were concerned over her political statement. This being a type of public square, I don’t care if our guests want to talk about their favorite food, which should be seafood, BTW

Fam, you are a very welcome guest here, and an excellent addition to the conversation, so please take no offense at my defense of Canary.