14Romans 14

Don't Criticize Others

1Welcome all the Lord's followers, even those whose faith is weak. Don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours.Select Romans 14:1

2Some think it is all right to eat anything, while those whose faith is weak will eat only vegetables.Select Romans 14:2

3But you should not criticize others for eating or for not eating. After all, God welcomes everyone.Select Romans 14:3

4What right do you have to criticize someone else's servants? Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right, and the Lord will make sure that they do right.Select Romans 14:4

5Some of the Lord's followers think one day is more important than another. Others think all days are the same. But each of you should make up your own mind.Select Romans 14:5

6Any followers who count one day more important than another day do it to honor their Lord. And any followers who eat meat give thanks to God, just like the ones who don't eat meat.Select Romans 14:6

7Whether we live or die, it must be for God, rather than for ourselves.Select Romans 14:7

8Whether we live or die, it must be for the Lord. Alive or dead, we still belong to the Lord.Select Romans 14:8

9This is because Christ died and rose to life, so that he would be the Lord of the dead and of the living.Select Romans 14:9

10Why do you criticize other followers of the Lord? Why do you look down on them? The day is coming when God will judge all of us.Select Romans 14:10

11In the Scriptures God says, “I swear by my very life that everyone will kneel down and praise my name!”Select Romans 14:11

12And so, each of us must give an account to God for what we do.Select Romans 14:12

Don't Cause Problems for Others

13We must stop judging others. We must also make up our minds not to upset anyone's faith.Select Romans 14:13

14The Lord Jesus has made it clear to me that God considers all foods fit to eat. But if you think some foods are unfit to eat, then for you they are not fit.Select Romans 14:14

15If you are hurting others by the foods you eat, you are not guided by love. Don't let your appetite destroy someone Christ died for.Select Romans 14:15

16Don't let your right to eat bring shame to Christ.Select Romans 14:16

17God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit.Select Romans 14:17

18If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people.Select Romans 14:18

19We should try to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith.Select Romans 14:19

20Don't let your appetite destroy what God has done. All foods are fit to eat, but it is wrong to cause problems for others by what you eat.Select Romans 14:20

21It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes problems for other followers of the Lord.Select Romans 14:21

22What you believe about these things should be kept between you and God. You are fortunate, if your actions don't make you have doubts.Select Romans 14:22

23But if you do have doubts about what you eat, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin.Select Romans 14:23