Romans 14:13-21

New International Reader's Version

¹³ Let us stop judging one another. Instead, decide not to put anything in the way of a brother or sister. Don’t put anything in their way that would make them trip and fall. ¹⁴ I am absolutely sure that nothing is “unclean” in itself. The Lord Jesus has convinced me of this. But someone may consider a thing to be “unclean.” If they do, it is “unclean” for them. ¹⁵ Your brother or sister may be upset by what you eat. If they are, you are no longer acting as though you love them. So don’t destroy them by what you eat. Remember that Christ died for them. ¹⁶ So suppose you know something is good. Then don’t let it be spoken of as if it were evil. ¹⁷ God’s kingdom is not about eating or drinking. It is about doing what is right and having peace and joy. All this comes through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Those who serve Christ in this way are pleasing to God. They are pleasing to people too.

¹⁹ So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build up one another. ²⁰ Don’t destroy the work of God because of food. All food is “clean.” But it’s wrong to eat anything that might cause problems for someone else’s faith. ²¹ Don’t eat meat if it causes your brother or sister to sin. Don’t drink wine or do anything else that will make them sin.