What is The “Naaman Complex” and Do I Have It?
Spiritual Questions with Scriptural Answers.
While there is a lot of confusion in the religious world today, it is important for us to understand that God is not the author of it (1 Cor. 14:33).
The reason so much division takes place is because of man’s twisting of the truth: “untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Pet. 3:16). There are many who “teach for doctrine the commandments of men” instead of preaching the truth of God’s Word (Matt. 15:9).
Unfortunately, many have been told what they wanted to hear and do no investigating for themselves going against God’s will (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:15).
Dear friends, why would we put our faith and trust in what man says and thinks instead of listening to the Author of eternal salvation and the One Who died for us (John 1:29; 3:16; Heb. 5:8-9)? In this article, we want to discuss the danger of buying what men think instead of obeying what God says!
What Naaman is Told to Do.
The Old Testament is full of great examples for us. While we are subject to the New Testament (the law of Christ), the lessons we can learn from the Old Testament are extremely valuable (Rom. 15:4).
One of the great accounts is what took place with a man named Naaman. We read about him in the book of Second Kings (2 Kin. 5).
Naaman is described as a, “commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor” (2 Kings 5:1).
While all of this was great, he had a major issue: He was a leper (2 Kin 5:1). Leprosy was a horrible disease that ate away at the flesh and caused those plagued with it to be outcasts. Naaman heard about a “prophet in Samaria” that could help him with his situation. He took action and went to see the prophet Elisha.
Elisha sent a messenger to him with instructions as to how to be cleansed of his leprosy:
“And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean” (2 Kin. 5:10).
Without reading any further, how do you think Naaman responded? If you were in his shoes, would you not have been overjoyed and ready to respond so you could be cleansed? Hold on to that thought.
Naaman’s Initial Reaction.
When Naaman heard the instructions, the Bible says he was “furious” and made this statement:
"But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage” (2 Kin. 5:11-12).
The phrase, “I said to myself” is translated “Behold, I thought” in the King James Version. Before he heard the instruction from the man of God, he already had his mind made up as to what he wanted to hear!
Naaman thought the man of God would “wave his hand over the place and heal the leprosy,” He was looking for a “quick fix” to his problem. He reasoned that the rivers of Damascus were a lot cleaner and would be better options than the Jordan.
He wanted to be cleansed according to his own terms and what he thought instead of submitting to God’s instructions.
Naaman Obeys God’s Command
After his servants came and helped him realize the situation better, he did what the messenger told him to do by dipping seven times in the Jordan. He was then cleansed of his leprosy.
He simplified the situation recognizing that all he needed to do was to “wash and be clean” which was a very simple action.
The Application.
Friends, the application from the text is extremely evident.
Many today have their minds made up as to how they can and should be cleansed of their sins. Some say, “Can’t I just say a prayer and ask Jesus into my heart?” (Where is that found in the Bible? Can you find any examples?). Just like we don’t read about a “Leper’s Prayer” in this passage, we don’t read about a “Sinner’s Prayer” in the New Testament!
Others say, “I don’t need to be baptized. All I need to do is believe.” The question is: What does the Bible say?
Jesus said,
“He that believes and is baptized will be saved. He who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
This is as simple as the instruction given to Naaman: “Wash and be clean.”
The Bible teaches that baptism is essential to salvation because when one is buried in the waters of baptism, he or she contacts the blood of Jesus which has the power to wash away sins (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 22:16; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12-14; Rom. 6:3-6; 1 Pet. 3:21).
Many today have the “Naaman Complex” when they hear that and say, “I don’t believe that” or “that’s just your opinion/ interpretation.” Friends, the Bible says what it says and the truth is the truth regardless of how one feels about it!
I pray that if you have the “Naaman Complex” (thinking something other than what God says; listening to what man says and thinks instead of God’s Word) that you will repent and simply obey the Word of God.
I close with the words of Jesus:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).
Drew Suttles is a minister for the Quitman church of Christ in Quitman, Georgia, and one of my best friends in this world. They live-stream all their Bible classes and sermons on their YouTube channel.
Drew also hosts the “Weathering the Storm” podcast on the Scattered Abroad Network. Drew talks about facing life’s challenges as a child of God. His podcast will be a blessing to your life.
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Amen