By John Uzoma|The Evangelist news
The story of General Naaman in II Kings 5:17–18 remains a powerful reflection of a timeless dilemma, the tension between personal conviction and official obligation. After his divine healing by the prophet Elisha, Naaman vowed allegiance to the God of Israel. Yet, out of duty to his master, the Syrian king, he foresaw himself entering the temple of Rimmon, a god he no longer believed in, simply because his position demanded it. To reconcile this internal conflict, he asked for two mule-loads of Israeli soil to symbolically stay rooted in the God he now worshipped. His body may have bowed in the temple of Rimmon, but his heart belonged elsewhere.
This ancient narrative mirrors a modern reality in politics, religion, and organizational life.
Sycophancy , the act of showing excessive deference for personal gain, has become an expected norm in many spheres of leadership and influence. The pull to conform often overrides personal belief, especially when power and privilege are at stake.
I recall attending the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International Chapter Presidents’ meeting in 1999 at the Cultural Theatre, Benin City. At the time, I was leading the Ikot Ekpene Main Chapter.
Among us was His Excellency, Dr. Sam Egwu, then Governor of Ebonyi State, who led the Government House Chapter of the Fellowship. When it was time for chapter reports, we applauded the remarkable growth of his chapter.
But then, the governor revealed that all his commissioners, aides, and appointees were mandated to attend the fellowship, a move that explained the booming attendance.
I turned to Dr. Ime Okpongette and others nearby and said, “This is membership by conscription.” It was not grown by conviction but by obligation, a classic example of how influence can manufacture allegiance.
The question is no longer where you stand but why you stand there. Are you in alignment with your principles or just performing loyalty? Are you a Naaman carrying Israeli soil in your heart or a mere echo in the temple of Rimmon?
In an age where political realignment, defection, and “loyalty” are everyday currency, one must pause and reflect: Is your allegiance rooted in conviction or convenience? Are you led by conscience or by the cravings of your stomach?.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ven. John Oyenkachi Uzoma, Ph.D is a pastor Theologian presently serving as an Archdeacon in the Diocese of Uyo, Church Of Nigeria Anglican Communion. He is a teacher of God’s word and brings deep revelation and prophetic, yet practical interpretation of contemporary issue.
