Scriptural Reference:
"Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “’Do not do anything that endangers your neighbour’s life. I am the Lord" Leviticus 19:16

"Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “I am only joking!”
Proverbs 26:18-19

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Ephesians 4:29

Reflection: For many the portmanteau, Religious trolls, seems to be an oxymoron. As Christians would never expect a fellow Christian to be crude, sarcastic or aggressively negative. Yet over the years I have experienced it. I have been told of it happening to others. Such comments are often made by someone without the speaker thinking of the damage. One event which still upsets me after so many years was when I was a new Christian teenager. I went to a Christian Bible Camp with many others. One evening we were encouraged to share a song or poem or some other talent. So mustering up my courage I sang the popular song at the time "Morning has Broken". My voice was shaky, my nerves were shot and I really was a bit of a mess. But there I was singing falteringly next to a friend who played the guitar. Later, after the event was over, one of the older staff approached me and I was praying he would say some encouraging words. Instead he chastised me for singing what he thought was a cliché of a song, and sarcastically told me off for wasting peoples time singing it.

I would like to say that was just an one off experience. Sadly there were others. I had written a poem Song of the Vigil, after sharing it with my Minister; he looked at it with open hostility and derision, and complained about one single word. The word was "Dove". I wrote the line "By your atonement, you most holy dove" with the intent that the dove represented the traditional sin offering for those in Jewish culture who could not afford a lamb. Sadly this did not alleviate the unexpected attack. As for what I have seen happen to others; I was visiting a church in Bathurst, New South Wales. It was an odd church. They had some interesting ways of celebrating the sacrament such as leaving several plates with bread and cups of juice on a table and they helped themselves to it. The songs were typical of a Hill Crest service. Nothing that made me feel uncomfortable. I could find some place within this service to enjoy worship of the Lord. It was later when someone else who was visiting started talking to one of the regulars. She was holding the Bible and was asking about the services. How often they met and what outreach programmes they had. Suddenly without reason or warning the many she was talking to noticed she had a King James version of the Bible. He than insulted and ridiculed her for having it. He made her feel little. She left the church feeling like she was not welcomed. These forms of what some now call passive aggressive is not new. Sadly many people who are seeking to know the Lord are being pushed away.

So what can we do when we are attacked by the very people we look to for leadership, support and encouragement? Or even the people we count as our close family and friends? The first thing we need to consider is the difference between the act or event and the individual who is the cause of it. We may well be able to get over the act that someone has done against us. Such as a slight insult or cruel comment. Yet that is just one. There will be others things that they may do to upset us. Dealing with each will eventually tire us out. What some say is the best course of action is to work on how we react or respond. We won't be able to change others but we can change how we act when faced with a nasty experience.

Leviticus 19:16 tells us not to slander neighbours or do anything that could endanger their life. So as long as we are adhering to this we will know that we are in a good place with the Lord. As we are avoiding meeting insult with insult and grievance with grievance. As well in Ephesians 4:29 we learn that our words should reflect a positive inclination. Our words should build up others. As the Bible tells us that such positive words can heap burning coals on those who would desire to harm us. If we could seek ways to return an insult with kind encouraging words the individual who has attacked will find it all the more harder to find a way of continuing their attack. Now with our last Bible verse, Proverbs 26:18-19, it portrays the attitude of those who enjoy hurting others. They tend to try and hide their cruel words behind a slight disclaimer that they were just joking. That only a fool would believe they were being nasty. And of course they will challenge you and ask if you are such a fool. We need to keep these people at a healthy distance. Making sure we are not tainted by their darkness and foul nature.

Finally and in closing we can each be reminded by the uplifting and encouraging words.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there
be any praise, think on these things."
Philippians 4:8

If we are to avoid becoming as bitter and twisted as those who so easily attack others, out of jealously and disregard, we will need to stay focused on those things which are encouraged by our Lord and are a positive influence on our thoughts and intentions.

Prayer:
My dear heavenly Father,
When I feel insulted, slurred,
Threatened and abused,
I pray that the Holy Spirit,
Will remind me of your Grace.

A loving embrace that,
Quenches the fiery darts,
Arrows and words of other,
Who have ill intent towards me.

May I focus on those things,
That are good, pure and loving,
So that I may always act rightly,
As a witness of your divine love.
Amen