Romans 14
1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Accept those who are still struggling to trust in God, and don't get into arguments over personal opinions.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
One person may believe they can eat anything, while another whose trust is weak only eats vegetables.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Those who eat anything must not look down on those who won't, and those who won't eat must not criticize those who do—for God has accepted them both.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
What right do you have to judge someone else's servant? It's their own master who decides whether they are right or wrong. With the Lord's help they will be able to take their stand for right.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Some people consider some days more important than others, while others consider each day the same. Everyone should be completely convinced in their own minds.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Those who respect a special day do so for the Lord; and those who eat without worrying do so for the Lord since they give thanks to God; while those who avoid eating certain things do so for the Lord, and they also give thanks to God.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
None of us live for ourselves, or die for ourselves.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
If we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord—so whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
This was the reason Christ died and came back to life—so that he could be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
So why do you criticize your fellow-believer? Why do you despise your fellow-believer? For all of us will stand before God's throne of judgment.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I am alive,’ the Lord says, ‘Every knee shall bow before me, and every tongue will declare that I am God.’”
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
So every one of us will have to explain ourselves to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
Therefore let's not judge each other anymore, but decide to do this instead—we won't put obstacles in the way of fellow-believers, or cause them to fall.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
I'm certain—persuaded by the Lord Jesus—that nothing in itself is ceremonially unclean. But if someone considers it to be unclean, to them it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
If your fellow-believer is hurt by you over matters of food, then you're no longer behaving in a loving way. Don't destroy someone for whom Christ died by the food you choose to eat.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
Don't let the good things you do be misrepresented—
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
for God's kingdom is not about eating and drinking, but about living right, having peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Anyone who serves Christ in this way pleases God, and is appreciated by others.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
So let's pursue the path of peace, and find ways to encourage each other.
20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
Don't destroy the work of God with arguments over food. Everything is clean—but it would be wrong to eat and offend others.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
It's better not to eat meat or drink wine or anything else that would cause your fellow-believer to stumble.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
What you personally believe is between you and God. Happy are those who don't condemn themselves for doing what they think is right!
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
But if you have doubts whether it's right or wrong to eat something, then you shouldn't, because you're not convinced it's right. Whatever isn't based on conviction is sin.
