Christians should not cause trouble for each other
13 So we must no longer judge other believers. Instead, decide never to cause them to do something wrong. 14 As for me, I am sure that we may eat any kind of food. God does not think that any food is unclean. The Lord Jesus has shown me that this is true. But someone else may believe that it is wrong to eat certain kinds of food. For that person, it would be wrong to eat that food.
15 Do not cause another believer to be upset because of what you eat. If you do that, you are not loving him as you should. Remember that Christ died on behalf of that person. So do not let your food make him turn away from God. 16 You may think that what you do is good. But it is better not to do it, if other people will say that it is wrong.
17 We belong to God's kingdom. The things that we eat and drink are not really important. These things are important: We should do what is right. We should have peace in our minds. We should be truly happy. God's Holy Spirit helps us to live like this. 18 If anyone serves Christ in this way, they will please God. And other people will respect them.
19 So we should try to live in a way that brings peace. We should help each other to become stronger as God's people. 20 Do not destroy what God has done in the life of another believer because of the food that you eat. God lets us eat all kinds of food. But do not cause trouble to another believer because of what you eat. That would be wrong. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine if that will cause another believer to be upset. Do not do anything that he might think is wrong.
22 Only God should know what you believe about these things. You should do what you have decided is the right thing to do. Do not feel guilty about what you eat. Then God will bless you. 23 But someone else may not be sure whether it is right to eat certain kinds of food. If that person does eat that kind of food, he shows that he is guilty. He has not trusted God that it is right for him to do that. Whatever things we do, we must believe that they are right. If we do not trust God that something is right, then it is a sin.
Romans 15
Christians should help each other to trust God
1 Some of us trust God with strong faith. We must help those believers whose faith is weaker. We must be patient with them. We should not only do things that will please ourselves. 2 Instead, each of us should do things that will please other believers. We should help them to trust God more strongly. 3 Even Christ did not do things to please himself. It is written in the Bible that he said this: ‘People have insulted you, God. In that way they have also insulted me.’
4 Everything that people wrote in the Bible in past times is there to teach us something. Those words help us to be patient and strong. As a result, we can trust God to do what he has promised.
5 It is God himself who helps us to be patient and strong. So I pray that he will help you to agree with each other and to be friends. That is how Christ Jesus wants you to live. 6 As a result, all of you will praise God together with the same thoughts. You will all agree that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is very great.
