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Principles of Conscience

¹ Now ^(C1)accept the one who is ^(C2)weak ^(F1)in faith, but not ^(F2)to have quarrels over opinions.^2 (C1)One person has faith that he may eat all things, but the one who is ^(C2)weak eats only vegetables.³ The one who eats is not to ^(C1)regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to ^(C2)judge the one who eats, for God has ^(C3)accepted him.^4 (C1)Who are you to judge the ^(F1)servant of another? To his own ^(F2)master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

^5 (C1)One person ^(F1)values one day over another, another ^(F1)values every day the same. Each person must be ^(C2)fully convinced in his own mind.⁶ The one who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and the one who eats, ^(F1)does so with regard to the Lord, for he ^(C1)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.⁷ For not one of us ^(C1)lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;⁸ for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore ^(C1)whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.⁹ For to this end ^(C1)Christ died and lived again, that He might be ^(C2)Lord both of the dead and of the living.

¹⁰ But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you ^(C1)regard your brother or sister with contempt? For ^(C2)we will all appear before the judgment seat of God.¹¹ For it is written:

"^(C1)AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, ^(C2)TO ME EVERY KNEE WILL BOW,
AND EVERY TONGUE WILL ^(F1)GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."

¹³ Therefore let's not ^(C1)judge one another anymore, but rather ^(F1)determine this: ^(C2)not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's or sister's way.¹⁴ I know and am convinced ^(F1)in the Lord Jesus that ^(C1)nothing is ^(F2)unclean in itself; but to the one who ^(C2)thinks something is ^(F2)unclean, to that person it is ^(F2)unclean.¹⁵ For if because of food your brother or sister is hurt, you are no longer ^(C1)walking in accordance with love. ^(C2)Do not destroy with your choice of food that person for whom Christ died.¹⁶ Therefore ^(C1)do not let what is for you a good thing be ^(F1)spoken of as evil;¹⁷ for the kingdom of God ^(C1)is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and ^(C2)peace and ^(C2)joy in the Holy Spirit.¹⁸ For the one who ^(C1)serves Christ in this way is ^(C2)acceptable to God and approved by other people.¹⁹ So then we ^(C1)pursue the things ^(F1)which make for peace and the ^(C2)building up of one another.^20 (C1)Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. ^(C2)All things indeed are clean, but ^(C3)they are evil for the person who eats ^(F1)and causes offense.^21 (C1)It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother or sister stumbles.²² The faith which you have, have ^(F1)as your own conviction before God. Happy is the one who ^(C1)does not condemn himself in what he approves.²³ But ^(C1)the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.