Biblical Framework for Global Peace: Romans 12:9-21
Opening Context and Traditional Application
Michael Clogs introduced Romans 12:9-21 by noting he has “actually used part of this passage as opening to a wedding or a marriage ceremony” because of how it addresses sincere love and devotion. 5 The passage begins with foundational principles:
- “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good.” 4
- “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” 4
- “Never lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor. Serving the Lord.” 4
Three Pillars of Loving Relationships
Michael identified three core pillars from the passage that he uses in marriage counseling, which he then extends to global relationships: 56
- Sincere Love: “How am I going to show my sincere love?” to the person you’re in a devoted relationship with 56
- Devotion: “How am I going to show my devotion to this person that I say I love?” 56
- Honoring Needs: “How am I going to honor their needs? How am I going to ensure that their needs are met?” 56
Michael explained that “if both of them wake up in this state, the needs of the whole relationship are met. It’s balanced.” 6 However, he emphasized that “at this point in time, we actually need to not just focus on our homes and our marriage relationships, we need to focus on global relationships.” 6
Extending the Framework Globally
Daily Practice of Global Love
Michael challenged listeners to apply these three pillars universally:
- “How do you wake up and be sincere to the people that you will meet every day, that your heart is filled with love? How do you do that every day?” 67
- “How do you show devotion to the world and filling it with love?” 67
- “How do you honor everyone around you? Honor their needs. Ensuring that those global needs are met” 7
The aspiration is that “everybody that you run into wakes up with the same three pillars.” 7
The Challenge of Blessing Persecutors
Michael focused extensively on verse 14: “Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them.” 7 He clarified that cursing means “you intentionally wish somebody harm,” distinguishing it from mere foul language. 7
He acknowledged the difficulty: “That’s not easy. It isn’t easy to do. And as we look at today’s world, when we see so much persecution happening.” 7
Application to Contemporary Conflicts
Mass Deportations and Government Persecution
Michael applied the passage to current events, referencing “people being rounded up by government agencies because they’re doing mass deportations to wherever it is that they’re taking them to”—including mentions of “that alligator Alcatraz that we hear so much about.” 8
Economic Warfare and Civilian Impact
He critiqued situations where “one government attacks another government just because they’re selling their oil to an inflicting country, an offensive country.” 8 Michael emphasized this persecution happens on multiple sides: “I’m not just talking about the Western world against what we see as tyranny. I’m talking about those who we see as tyrants doing the same thing to other smaller countries.” 8
The Iran Example: Protecting Civilians
Michael used Iran as a specific case study, stating: “When we look at the Strait [of Hormuz] and we see… it’s not the government of Iran that concerns me, it is the people of Iran that concern me because they need the commerce to keep living.” 89
He emphasized that civilians need commerce to continue their way of life, and “there is nothing wrong with the civilians as they want to live. It is the government. The government on either side, they are persecuting the simple people.” 9
Non-Violence and Feeding Enemies
Returning to the biblical text, Michael highlighted: “It does say that we need to feed our enemy. Give them drink when they need it. It does say that.” 9 He characterized these as “ways of non-violence” that allow “love to bridge across so that we all eventually live in the type of peace and love that God has in mind for us.” 9
Call to Stop Playing God’s Role
Michael issued a direct challenge: “Allow God to do his job in this. We need to stop trying to do his job with mass destruction and missile strikes and things, drones, all sorts of weapons that do more harm to the simple people, the civilians.”
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