When God would not allow Balaam to carry out Balek's order, the prophet showed Balek how to defeat the Hebrews by leading them into idolatry and sexual uncleanness. False doctrine seems to be accompanied by immorality very often. The Devil attacked the Ephesians by causing them to let their affection for Christ grow cool. He tried to corrupt the Smyrnans through suffering. In Pergamos, he seduced Christians by getting them to allow heathen practices in the church.
Corruption is often the price the church pays when it enjoys the favor of government.
Nicholas drifted into Greek philosophy and began to accept its tenet that the spiritual part of man is inherently good and the material part inherently evil. He reasoned that a man's indulgence of his body didn't defile his spirit. Nicholas also taught his followers to go to the pagan temples as well as to the church. In fact, he sought to merge Christianity with paganism. Compromise with the world was the heart of his teaching.