Title: Malware in the Church
Text: Mark 10:35-45
Thesis: A healthy faith community is characterized by Christ-like humility and mutual consideration.
Introduction
This week I began reading The Girl In the Spider’s Web… another Scandinavian mystery novel. It is the 4th book of the Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Series. It begins with a crisis: Someone of extraordinary computer skill and devious intent had hacked the United States National Security Agency. It was a crisis of international proportions.
Malware is short for malicious software. Malware is any software used to disrupt computer operation, to gather information or gain access to private computer systems. Malware is defined by it malicious intent… it is stealthy and often designed to cause harm or extort payment. Malware is an umbrella term used to refer to a number of intrusive software including computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, spyware, etc.
Ransomware is a type of malware, used by cyber blackmailers, that restricts access to a computer system that it infects in some way, and demands that the user pay a ransom to the operators of the malware to remove the restriction.
Earlier this year several law enforcement agencies in Maine were cyber attached, encrypting all their files, making them inaccessible. They were not alone… departments in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Illinois were also hacked. In all but one case the law enforcement agencies paid a ransom to get their files released or unlocked.
Any business or any person operating an online computer can fall victim to a cyber-attack so we install firewall protection and security systems and anti-virus systems to prevent malware intrusions into our computers. That’s why we are careful about opening email from individuals and sites we do not recognize in that to do so is like opening the door of your home to a kidnapper or thief.
You could say that in a similar way, we are all spiritually vulnerable to a sin virus attack in our personal lives. Viruses are infectious. Sin is infectious.
I. Sin is Infectious, Mark 10:35-40
“When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” Mark 10:37
A viral infection is any type of infection that is caused by a virus. A virus is a germ that is smaller than a bacteria. Viruses are encapsulated by a protective coating so they are more difficult to kill than bacteria. They are harder to treat because they are not susceptible to antibiotics like bacteria are because of their protective coating. However, viruses cannot grow or exist without host cells - they must be in a living organism (such as the human body) to survive. True also of sin… it thrives in a human host.
In our text today two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John, both caught a sin virus. We could call it a prideful ambition virus. They were looking to the earthly reign of Christ and presuming to ask that they be given preferential status as Jesus right-hand and left hand men… being seated one on Jesus right and the other on his left. In short… James and John were working the angle of their own personal agendas.
Alan Redpath was quoted in Leadership, “The secret of every discord in Christian homes and communities and churches I that we seek our own way and our own glory.” (Leadership, Vol. 3, no. 2)
The interesting thing about sin is that it is like a virus… it is catching.
II. Infectious Sin is Contagious, Mark 10:41-44
When the other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. Mark 10:41
An article in Entrepreneur titled “How to Keep Colds and Flu Out of the Office cited statistics from the Department of Disease Control claiming flu alone costs businesses $10.4 billion in direct costs annually. 1/5th of the U.S. population will get the flu this year. 200,000 of us will be hospitalized from the flu.
Despite these statistics Americans are in no rush to get flu vaccinations. Only 37% plan to be vaccinated. All this despite 65% of employees will go to work sick on any given day. In a company as small as 25 employees, the loss of productivity due to employee sickness costs that company $33,000 a year.
They claim that open offices are akin to flying in an airplane where everyone’s germs are being circulated through the ventilation system. If you go to work sick you will infect your co-workers.
They say that when your head feels like it is about to implode, you are sweating like a melting popsicle on the 4th of July and your cough scares your children and sends the dog into hiding under the bed… it is time to call in sick.
And if you wish to be proactive and part of the solution get vaccinated yourself and vaccinate your children, wash your hands, use your elbows (my own public restroom ritual), use sanitizer products frequently, cover your mouth (Server coughing into her forearm), disinfect your work area often, eat and drink healthy, stay home if you are sick. Do whatever you can to keep from being infected and from infecting others.
James and John blew it. They caught a virus and immediately the virus spread through the ranks of the disciples. When the other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. (Mark 10:41) Now everyone in the office is sick.
If this scenario were an episode of Survivor the other disciples were also pursuing their own personal agendas and they were ready to vote James and John off the island.
Sin sickness takes many forms… We’ve all heard of the 7 Deadly Sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth.
The Book of Proverbs cites a similar list in 16:16-19: “Six things the Lord hates, and seven that are an abomination to him:
• a proud look,
• a lying tongue,
• hands that shed innocent blood,
• a heart that devises evil plots,
• feet that are quick to run into mischief,
• a deceitful witness that utters lies and
• the person that sows discord among the brethren.”
It was the prideful ambition of James and John that resulted in sowing discord among the brethren.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but it doesn’t take much to get the brethren up in arms…
In one of our parishes there was a huge scandal surrounding an adult group serving coffee and tea during small group meetings at church. In another we had the great pew scandal as to whether we would remove a row of pews as per the order of the city fire marshal to allow for an exit in the event of a fire or revolt. I was at the center of an uprising protesting the pastor eating breakfast with publicans and sinners when he could be eating breakfast with the saints. I know a church right now embroiled in controversy over the use of a storage closet. If a congregation’s love for Jesus and their brothers and sisters in Christ is as fragile as all that… that is one sin-sick bunch of people.
If only the sin of the one was not contagious but unfortunately, sin spreads like a virus infecting the whole body.
So what is the solution?
III. Debilitating Sin is Treatable, Mark 10:45
“For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
They say that black widow spiders kill their mates after mating just to stop the snoring before it happens. Snoring can be a problem. Bonnie finally resorted to using a Taser on me when my snoring woke her up… prompting me to see treatment. Sleep apnea is one of many ailments that are medically treatable.
Everything from acid reflux and arthritis to cancer and high cholesterol to diabetes and depression to Insomnia and infections to warts is medically treatable.
We began this morning referencing viruses can run amok in our computer software. I mentioned ransomware as a type of malware that restricts access to a computer system that it infects in some way, and demands that the user pay a ransom to the operators of the malware to remove the restriction. One of the ways to treat a computer virus is to bring in a high tech computer wizard and pay him a zillion dollars to sort it out or just pay the ransom in order to set our computers free.
Sin is treatable… Jesus said that he came to give his life as a ransom for many, thus setting us free from the bondage of sin in our lives.
Jesus was a great leader in that when he saw the discord and conflict among his disciples, he stepped up to deal with it. When Jesus saw the effects of discord sown among the disciples he called them together and said, “Hey guys, stop your bickering. You are not to emulate the ways of the world where leaders lord it over those beneath them. Christians lead by serving others. Christians are considerate. Christians are not controlled by their own preferences and wants and needs… Christians are moved to be considerate of the preferences and wants and needs of others. In fact… I was am so concerned for what is best for you that I am willing to die for you.”
While it is a good thing that sin is treatable it is important to remember to prevent it from recurring.
IV. Recurring Sin is Preventable
Once your computer has been attacked by malware or a virus or a worm or a Trojan horse or spyware… you ask, “What can I do to keep this from happening again?” So as a first line of defense you install a firewall program or piece of hardware to screen out hackers and viruses and worms or whatever… preventing unauthorized access to a computer. A firewall is simply a barrier you download to keep destructive elements from invading your computer. There are many such anti-virus programs out there…
Similarly, there are some things we can do to prevent sin from recurring in our lives that is not only destructive to us personally but also hurtful to our homes and faith community.
Living in the Word of God is a primary preventive practice for every Christian. As the very basic first line of defense we live in the Word of God.
A. Live in the Word of God, Psalm 119:9, 11 and 105
Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105
I still have my first bible. It was not a leather bound edition. Very basic. I don’t remember doing it but at some point I must have thought the edges had become frayed and unsightly so I used scissors to cut off the frayed edges. The result was something like shaving off your eye brows… not pretty. Some time ago I was thumbing through that bible checking out what I had underlined and I noticed that inside the front cover I had written, “This book will keep you from sin and sin will keep you from this book.”
The Psalmist asked, “How can a young person stay pure?” And then he answered his question, “By obeying your Word. I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:9 and 11
Transition: The second thing we can do as a preventive measure against recurring sin is pray.
B. Practice Prayer, Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience the peace of God which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guide your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for us to pray as a first response to every situation. How many hurtful words would never have been spoke had we taken the time to calm ourselves and invite God to be present and in control of the moment? How many spontaneous compulsions could have been averted had we taken the time to calm ourselves and seek God’s guidance?
The third preventive measure we can take against recurring sin is be active in our faith community.
C. Be in community, Hebrews 10:24-25
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
When we are actively involved in church… worshiping and studying the Word and praying and fellowshipping together two things happen: Accountability and Encouragement. When we are living in community we feel a sense of responsibility for how we live and how our words and actions affect others as well as experience the encouragement each for the other.
Conclusion
Helen Roseveare, a medical missionary in Africa, was the only doctor in a large hospital. There were constant interruptions and shortages, and she was becoming increasingly impatient and irritable with everyone around her. Finally, one of the African pastors insisted, "Helen, please come with me." He drove Helen to his humble house and told her that she was going to have a retreat—two days of silence and solitude. She was to pray until her attitude adjusted. All night and the next day she struggled; she prayed, but her prayers seemed to bounce off the ceiling. Late on Sunday night, she sat beside the pastor around a little campfire. Humbly, almost desperately, she confessed that she was stuck.
He gave her a suggestion: "I have noticed that quite often, you take a coffee break and hold the hot coffee in your hands waiting for it to cool. Helen, from now on, as the coffee cools, ask God, 'Lord, make me more like you.'”
It is said that, "The main problem in the church is that we have people following a crucified Savior who have a totally un-crucified ego."
As we learn to release our egos and personal agendas into God’s hands, we can truly start living into what it means to be a servant of Christ and others. When we eradicate sin and practice preventive sinfulness we find that rather than sowing discord, we are instruments of God’s peace and harmony.
