14:1 Accept the one whose faith is fragile, but don’t think poorly of them.

14:2 You may know you are allowed to eat all things, but the fragile one may believe we should only eat vegetables.

14:3 The one who eats must not look down on the one who does not; conversely, the one who does not eat must not look down on the one who does, for God has accepted them.

14:4 After all, who are you to judge someone else’s household servant? To their own master they stand or fall; and stand they will, for the Master is able to make them stand.

14:5 One person prefers one day over another, while another treats every day alike; let each one follow their personal conviction.

14:6 The one who observes special days wants to please the Master; the one who eats all things also wants to please the Master, for they are grateful to God. Likewise, the one who eats only vegetables is trying to please the Master and is grateful to God.

14:7 None of us lives or dies in isolation.

14:8 If we live, we live for the Master; if we die, we die for the Master. Either way we belong to him.

14:9 Because the Anointed died and lives, he is Master of both the dead and the living.

14:10 So why do you judge your brother or sister? Why do you look down on them? All of us will someday stand before the judgment seat of the Anointed,

14:11 for it is written: “ ‘As I live,’ says the Master, ‘Every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will acknowledge God!’ ”

14:12 Since each one of us will give an account of ourselves to God,

14:13 in no way should we be judging each other’s personal convictions. Be resolved not to put any stumbling block or trap in front of a sister or brother.

14:14 I know and am convinced in Master Jesus that nothing is inherently forbidden for us to eat. But to the one who thinks it is, then for that person it really is.

14:15 So if, by your eating, your brother or sister is grieved, you are no longer keeping in step with love. Do not use what you eat to destroy that one for whom the Anointed died!

14:16 In this way, what is a good thing for you will not be maligned.

14:17 After all, the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking, but about justice, peace, and happiness in the Holy Spirit.

14:18 So the one who slaves for the Anointed will then be pleasing to God and approved by people.

14:19 Consequently, then, we pursue that which brings peace and builds others up.

14:20 Do not demolish the work of God on account of food! All of it is “clean” but it becomes evil to the one who, seeing the freedom of others, violates their own conscience and eats it.

14:21 It would be much better to never eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything else that might weaken or trip up your brother or sister.

14:22 Whatever your personal conviction is, keep it between yourself and God. Happy is the one who does not violate their conscience.

14:23 But if anyone has doubts about what they are eating, they are condemned, because whatever is not out of faith is failure.