Rom 14 | HCSB | STEP | Accept anyone who is weak in faith , but don’t argue about doubtful issues .

Romans 14

The Law of Liberty

1 Accept ^a anyone who is weak in faith, ^{▼▼Or weak in the Faith
,} ^c but don’t argue about doubtful issues. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, ^d but one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, ^e and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, ^f because God has accepted him. ^g 4 Who are you to criticize ^h another’s household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand. For the Lord is able ^{▼▼Other mss read For God has the power} to make him stand.

5 One person considers one day to be above another day. ^j Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind. ^k 6 Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. ^{▼▼Other mss add but whoever does not observe the day, it is to the Lord that he does not observe it} Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; ^m and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, yet he thanks God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. ⁿ 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. ^o 9 Christ died and came to life ^p for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living. ^q 10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the tribunal of God. ^{▼▼Other mss read of Christ
,} ^s 11 For it is written:

As I live, says the Lord,
every knee will bow to Me, ^t
and every tongue will give praise to God. ^{u
,} ^v

12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. ^w

The Law of Love

13 Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. ^x Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way. ^y 14 (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is ^{▼▼unclean: When something is clean, it is holy or acceptable to God. When it is unclean, it is unholy (such as an unclean spirit). The term can be used in a ritual sense to apply to moral standards for living.}unclean in itself. ^aa Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. ^ab) 15 For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer ^{▼▼walk: A term often used in a figurative way to mean "way of life" or "behavior"}walking according to love. ^ad Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat. ^ae 16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, ^af 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, ^ag but righteousness, peace, and joy ^ah in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ ^ai in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men. ^aj

19 So then, we must pursue what promotes peace ^ak and what builds up one another. ^al 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is ^{▼▼clean: When something is clean, it is holy or acceptable to God. When it is unclean, it is unholy (such as an unclean spirit). The term can be used in a ritual sense to apply to moral standards for living.}clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. ^an 21 It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble. ^{▼▼Other mss add or offended or weakened} 22 Do you have a conviction? ^{▼▼Lit have faith} Keep it to yourself before God. The man who does not condemn himself by what he approves is blessed. ^aq 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, ^ar because his eating is not from a conviction, ^{▼▼Or faith} and everything that is not from a conviction ^{▼▼Or faith} is sin.