I got a private message recently. Part of it said:
“I do have to ask, have you become a Facebook troll? Hahaha! It’s funny. But you seem to donate your opinions, many of which I also agree. But they are unsolicited. As I am tempted to throw my two-cents into a Facebook thread, I am also reminded that “blessed are the peacemakers”. Are you helping to keep the peace?”
Whenever anyone asks if I’m a troll, what they’re really asking is, “Can I just ignore you?” When you’re perturbed by something I say, it’s easier to dismiss me as a troublemaker than to engage with the idea I expressed. My comments are often satirical which makes you think that they’re “just jokes.” I sincerely believe everything that I say even when I’m exaggerating for the sake of humor. Slap whatever label you decide is appropriate on me.
I’m willing to let you choose my label because I am a peacemaker. I won’t argue with you about my trollish-ness (if that’s what you decide to call it). Like the Apostle Paul, I became an antagonist to antagonists that I might win a few. If finding common ground with you requires me to be the troll, then pass me a goat and come visit me under my bridge.
You’re not being a peacemaker when you stifle the urge to “throw your two-cents into a Facebook thread.” You’re just being a coward. You’re afraid that your point of view will be ridiculed. So, instead of engaging in public discourse, you did the safe thing. You wrote a private message to me.
You weren’t afraid to “throw your two-cents” at me (unsolicited, by the way) because you know that I’m a sensible person. If you actually believed me to be a “troll,” you wouldn’t dare to enter my lair. But now that you’re here, I’ll tell you the difference between peacemakers and chickens.
When there is disagreement and fighting, a chicken gets uncomfortable. Emotionally, the chicken will rise to level 10 right along with the combatants. It has no idea how to resolve conflict so the chicken will simply scold the opponents for “not getting along with each other.” When it is ignored, it will retreat to a safe distance to lament how greatly ‘peacemakers’ suffer.
A peacemaker stands right in the middle of the conflict. Emotions cloud the judgment of both opponents and a true peacemaker is able to be objective (fair). Peacemakers are the referees in a boxing match. A good referee isn’t standing in the corner, keeping his ‘two-cents’ to himself. The peacemaker separates the opponents. In order to do his job, the peacemaker steps into the conflict himself.
One of the reasons the church has little impact on culture is our belief that God called Christians to be passive. We believe loving our neighbor means keeping the most offensive truths to ourselves. We keep our mouths shut whenever expressing our faith will disrupt the peace. We’re terrified of squawking chickens.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:10
