Proverbs‬ ‭3:30‬ Don’t accuse anyone without cause, when he has done you no harm.      

      Mēdeia is an ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides. As quoted from that story, “Hate is a bottomless cup; I will pour and pour”. If this were written today it could easily have been inspired by the endless amounts of hate that trolls spew out regularly on social media.
      The gluttonous feeding frenzy that occurs when someone falters in public service, or life in general, creates an explosion of vicious opinions on social media, regardless of the accusations being true or false. Like voracious piranhas devouring a wounded and bleeding carcass within seconds of the first bite, these trolls devour the innocence or guilt of people’s lives at the same rate of consumption. They don’t stop long enough to consider that they may be out of line with their hateful slanders. Psalm 53:4 Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to God.
      This kind of darkness of heart bleeds into our social fabric, staining whatever it touches with hateful anger. It causes a mob mentality and a cruel outlook on anything and everything pure and honest. John 8:59 Therefore they took up stones, that they might cast at Him; but Jesus hid Himself, and went forth out of the temple. 
      Let’s face it. There is nothing new here. There has always been slander. Even if you do not accept that Jesus is Lord, you do have to admit He was an honest and forthright man. Yet people or the trolls of His day wanted to stone Jesus because of things He had said. The difference of opinions about Jesus was as diverse then as they are now. John 9:16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.
      Character assassination starts off with belittling snide remarks and derogatory comments. However, history shows us that it does not take long before lynch mobs and burnings become acceptable actions for the venting of indignant rage. We are the Lord’s hand extended in this dark world and grace must be the balm anointing our hands as we reach out in the love of God. We are to hand out the bread of life to those who are hungry for righteousness and offer the salt that causes a thirst for the love of God. 
      Where do we get the notion that we have the right to comment and cast hard judgments on anything another person says or does? I thought judgment was the Holy Spirit’s job. John 16:8 The Spirit will come and show the people of this world the truth about sin and God’s justice and the judgment. There is enough darkness and shadows around us without us creating more. We are supposed to be the light of the world. We are to shed that light through love and mercy, not condemnation and slander. Prov. 3:30 Don’t accuse anyone without cause, when he has done you no harm.
      We see road signs throughout British Columbia that say “Do not feed the wildlife.” Well, don’t feed the trolls or give them the assurance that what they are saying and doing is alright. Let us bring back to society and each other a loving respect that is birthed in the knowledge of God and His love for us. Satan is a troll with a bottomless cup of hate. He slanders and stands accusing the saints with lies and innuendo, making it up as he goes along. Zech. 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.  
      The Lord Jesus, on the other hand, makes intercession for us and defends our lives with His blood and righteousness. Rom. 8:34b Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. He continually blesses us so that we can go out and do no harm to those Jesus died for.
      Before you get ready to jump in and slander someone who is in the headlines of all the media outlets, ask yourself who it is that is promoting the barrage of juicy tidbits. Prov. 18:8 A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being. Remember who you are! Darkness may bleed, but you are the light of the world. Matt. 5:14 You are the light of the world–like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Blessings and peace to you.