Romans 14 - Prayer Tents

The Danger of Criticism

14Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.G770G4102G4355G1161G3361G1519G1261G1253 2For instance, one person believes it's all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.G3303G3739G4100G5315G3956G1161G770G2068G3001 3Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.G1848G3361G2068G1848G2068G3361G2532G2068G3361G2068G3361G2919G2068G1063G2316G4355G846 4Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord's help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.G5101G1488G4771G2919G245G3610G2398G2962G4739G2228G4098G1161G2476G1063G2316G2076G1415G2476G846G2476 5In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable.G3303G3739G2919G2250G3844G2250G1161G3739G2919G3956G2250G4135G1538G4135G1722G2398G3563 6Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.G5426G2250G5426G2962G2532G5426G3361G2250G2962G5426G3756G5426G2068G2068G2962G1063G2316G2168G2532G2068G3361G2962G2068G3756G2532G2316G2168 7For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves.G1063G3762G2257G2198G1438G2532G3762G599G1438 8If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.G1063G1437G5037G2198G2198G2962G1437G5037G599G599G2962G1437G5037G2198G3767G1437G5037G599G2070G2962 9Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.G1063G1519G5124G5547G2532G599G2532G450G2532G326G2443G2961G2532G3498G2532G2198 10So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.G1161G5101G2919G4771G2919G4675G80G2228G2532G5101G1848G4771G1848G4675G80G1063G3936G3956G3936G968G5547 11For the Scriptures say, "`As surely as I live,' says the LORD, `every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.'"G1063G1125G1473G2198G3004G2962G3754G3956G1119G2578G1698G2532G3956G1100G1843G2316 12Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.G3767G686G1538G2257G1325G3056G4012G1438G2316 13So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.G2919G3767G2919G240G3371G235G2919G5124G3123G3361G5087G4348G2228G4625G80 14I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.G1492G2532G3982G1722G2962G2424G3754G3762G2839G1223G1438G1508G3049G5100G1511G2839G1565G2839 15And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don't let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.G1161G1487G4675G80G3076G1223G1033G3765G4043G3765G26G2596G622G3361G1565G4675G1033G5228G3739G5547G599 16Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good.G3361G3767G5216G18G987 17For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.G1063G932G2316G2076G3756G1035G2532G4213G235G1343G2532G1515G2532G5479G1722G40G4151 18If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.G1063G1722G5125G1398G5547G2101G2316G2532G1384G444 19So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.G1377G686G3767G1377G3588G1515G2532G1519G240G3619G240 20Don't tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble.G1752G1033G2647G3361G2041G2316G3956G3303G2513G235G2556G444G2068G1223G4348 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.G2570G3361G5315G2907G3366G4095G3631G3366G1722G3739G4675G80G4350G2228G4624G2228G770 22You may believe there's nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don't feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.G2192G4771G4102G2192G2596G4572G1799G2316G3107G2919G3361G1438G1722G3739G1381 23But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.G1161G1252G2632G1437G5315G3754G3756G1537G4102G1161G3739G3956G3756G1537G4102G2076G266