Romans 14:1-13 ▼

1 Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of arguing over differences of opinion.

2 One person believes that he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.

3 The person who eats any kind of food must not ridicule the person who does not eat them, and the person who does not eat certain foods must not criticize the person who eats them, for God has accepted him.

4 Who are you to criticize someone else's servant? He stands or falls before his own Lord—and stand he will, because the Lord makes him stand.

5 One person decides in favor of one day over another, while another person decides that all days are the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind:

6 The one who observes a special day, observes it to honor the Lord. The one who eats, eats to honor the Lord, since he gives thanks to God. And the one who does not eat, refrains from eating to honor the Lord; yet he, too, gives thanks to God.

7 For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself.

8 If we live, we live to honor the Lord; and if we die, we die to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

9 For this reason the Messiah died and returned to life, so that he might become the Lord of both the dead and the living.

10 Why, then, do you criticize your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For all of us will stand before the judgment seat of God.

11 For it is written, |As certainly as I live, declares the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will praise God.|

12 Consequently, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

13 Therefore, let's no longer criticize each other. Instead, make up your mind not to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.