Template talk:Nicolaitan
Should or can people run for political office without committing the error of Balaam?
First, you should realize there are almost no "freemen" because we were all again entangled in the elements of the world. Most people who I have seen who think they have come out at this time are merely bad or rebellious servants of the system their parents sold them into. 2 Peter 2:10 speaks of those who are "Presumptuous [are they], selfwilled". Presumptuous is from the Greek word "tolmetes" which means "a daring man. I have seen very daring men challenge the system but not always seeking to use their talents to build or edify the Kingdom.
I have seen them for years neglecting righteousness in exchange for self-righteousness - neglecting family and neighbor and almost never gathering in tens or doing as Christ commanded.
Even those who come out actually answering the call of Christ to be His Church at this time are only "Bondservants of Christ", not freemen. Second, God hates the "the deeds of the Nicolaitans".
What are the deeds of the Nicolaitans?
To "run for office" does not necessarily mean you are performing those deeds referenced concerning the Nicolaitan and Balaam.
Balaam misused his gifts and his relationship with God for personal gain. I know of people who feel led by God to run for office and will actually suffer a financial loss to do so. They are making that sacrifice to protect the people from the present "heavy-handed socialism" and have the desire prevent the abuse of an exercising authority already there.
Many people who are voting are doing so in self-defense. There will come temptations for those who do these things but these are not the deeds of the Nicolaitans who desire the personal gain of benefits at the expense of their neighbor.
Is the question are they working in the system of the world for personal gain or to actually serve? The answer may be found in asking the question, are the people neglecting to gather and sacrifice in the pattern commanded by Christ while they run for office or seek to lift the burdens from their neighbor? God is the judge.
Can someone who is seeking the kingdom of God also run for public office?
Why did Jesus sit down with publicans which were people holding public office? Matthew 9:11
Remember Jesus was himself running for public office, The King. When he entered Jerusalem he was hailed by the people as king. But it is what he did after taking that office that made him both a righteous king and hated by many.
Rome was originally a republic. It slowly became socialist and after 500 years it had it first commander in Chief and president who appointed imperial judges. Many Christian minded people were in the Roman government. Paul' s own half-brother held office and his niece by marriage was Claudia, adopted by Emperor Claudius and mentioned in the Bible.
Foxe's book of martyrs speaks of many Roman soldiers being Christians. There are cases where judges and even Emperors came to the defense of Christians. We should not create a divide between us and the people of the world. Jesus came that the whole world might be saved. Let only righteousness of God be the divide. Remember back with John when soldiers in Luke 3:14 asked what could they do concerning Baptism and the kingdom. That is the beautiful thing about a "free assembly is that you can be a publican and start the process of repentance. People are already entangled in the yoke of bondage. What is more Christ-like than to bring Christ into the halls of the modern Sanhedrin knowing that that is where the enemy resides?
It is not a job to be taken lightly.
Yes, an ordained minister cannot serve two masters but the people do not have to quit their day job. In fact, they have the opportunity of bringing kingdom values into high places.
http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle
Is a laborer is worthy of his hire?
If the people ask you to do a job and you do it are you not worthy of what they promise? What if you do more than what you promised and take no extra
I do not think that running for political office is the same as "medical license to perform abortions.". If you got a job at planned parenthood and tried to use your position to talk women out of abortion and privately use your money to show them alternatives you would probably get fired very quickly. Can someone seeking to be a Christian be a jailer or a policeman or a judge?
Two of the offices that people are running for one is congressional and the other is administrative oversight with little or no executive or lawmaking power. It is a position to expose corruption and protect the interest of the people. A congressional position can be used in the same way.
It is what he does in those positions that will make the difference. Both people I know running for office also do many things to promote the kingdom and are in free assemblies. I can not encourage them nor discourage them in anything but righteousness. In both cases, I have no doubt that they will get less for their time and work more than what they are paid.
Remember joining a congregation does not put you in the kingdom. If it did they would not be free assemblies. They do not change your status in the world. What will do that is the world. Only when you enter an order will you be cast out of the world. There may come a day when the individual congregant can opt out like Christians at Pentecost. But that day is not here yet and people are presently poorly prepared for it.
As long as you use the number of the world in any shape or form you are still of the world. Even if you stop using it there is almost no place the world says you are free from them except as a member of an Order described and appointed by Christ. This is because of the debt.
A member of an Order is a bondservant of Christ and therefore of God like the Levites before them. It is they who cannot serve two masters. Until we get our Pentecost the people remain merchandise. When they start doing what Christ said to do with their whole heart and mind and soul then the system will start talking about kicking them out like they Pharaoh did to Egypt and the Pharisees did to followers of Christ.