Principles of Conscience

1Now accept the one who is weak [a]in faith, but not [b]to have quarrels over opinions. 2One person has faith that he may eat all things, but the one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge the [c]servant of another? To his own [d]master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5One person [e]values one day over another, another [f]values every day the same. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6The one who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and the one who eats, [g]does so with regard to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God. 7For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God. 11For it is written:

“AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, TO ME EVERY KNEE WILL BOW,

AND EVERY TONGUE WILL [h]GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” 12So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

13Therefore let’s not judge one another anymore, but rather [i]determine this: not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s or sister’s way. 14I know and am convinced [j]in the Lord Jesus that nothing is [k]unclean in itself; but to the one who thinks something is [l]unclean, to that person it is [m]unclean. 15For if because of food your brother or sister is hurt, you are no longer walking in accordance with love. Do not destroy with your choice of food that person for whom Christ died. 16Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be [n]spoken of as evil; 17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18For the one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by other people. 19So then we pursue the things [o]which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the person who eats [p]and causes offense. 21It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother or sister stumbles. 22The faith which you have, have [q]as your own conviction before God. Happy is the one who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.