Romans 12:18
Romans 12:1818If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
Watchtower commentary takes ("be peaceable with all men") as describing the Christian disposition toward outsiders. The verse fits within the doctrine of cosmic neutrality — Witnesses pursue peace by remaining outside political and military conflicts. The "as far as it depends on you" clause is read as acknowledging that some conflicts cannot be avoided when righteousness is at stake.
V18's "as far as it depends on you" is precisely the qualifier that distinguishes biblical peacemaking from cosmic withdrawal. Paul commands active pursuit of peace with neighbours, families, and society — including the costly engagement that peacemaking requires. The Mennonite and Quaker traditions show how this looks in practice: conflict-resolution training, refugee resettlement, prison visitation, civil rights advocacy. Each requires entering conflict, not avoiding it. The Watchtower's reading collapses Paul's "as far as it depends on you" into "stay out of every conflict," but the verse's structure points the other direction — peacemaking is a positive duty that costs the disciple something.