Romans
Accept the one who is weak in the faith, but not to dispute over opinions.
One person believes in eating everything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.
The one who eats everything must not look down on the
one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge
the one who eats everything, because God has accepted him.
Who are you to
judge someone else’s servant? He stands or falls before his own master. And he
will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand.
One person considers one day as more holy than other days, while another person
considers every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own
mind.
The one who observes the day observes it for the lord. The one
who eats everything eats for the lord, because he gives thanks to God. The
one who does not eat everything does it for the lord, and gives thanks to God.
For none of us lives for himself, and none dies for himself.
If we live, we
live for the lord, or if we die, we die for the lord. So then, whether we live or
die, we are the lord’s.
For this reason Messiah died and came to life — so that
he may be the lord of both the dead and the living.
But why does one who eats only vegetables judge his brother or sister? And why does one who eats everything look down on his brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment
seat of God.
For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, to Me every
knee will bow, and every tongue will praise God.”
So each one of us will
give account of ourselves to God.
So then let us not pass judgment on one another any more, but rather determine this:
never put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother or sister’s way.
I
know and am persuaded in the lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself.
But if someone considers something to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
For if because of what you eat your brother or sister is upset, you are no
longer behaving in love. Do not destroy with your food anyone for whom
Messiah died.
And do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil,
because God’s Kingdom
is not primarily about eating and drinking, but
about living right, having peace and joy in holy spirit.
Anyone who serves the Messiah in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.
So
let us pursue what leads to peace and building one another up.
Do not tear down God’s work for the sake of food. All things are clean, but it is wrong to eat anything that causes another to stumble.
It is good not to eat
meat, drink wine, or do anything which causes your brother or sister to
stumble.
The faith you have, keep as your own conviction before God.
Blessed is the one who has no reason to condemn himself for what he approves.
But
the one who doubts is condemned if he eats,
because the eating is not from faith,
and whatever is not from faith is sin.
Romans