Romans 14 paraphrase
by Wayne Leman, based on the CEV text

Accept Christians who have differences of opinion which affect their faith. Don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours. Some think it is all right to read any Bible version, while others will only use a single version. But you should not criticize others for using more than one version or only a single version. After all, God welcomes everyone. What right do you have to criticize someone else's servants? Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right, and the Lord will make sure that they do right. Some of the Lord's followers think one Bible version is more important or more accurate or more inspired than another. Others think all Bible versions are essentially the same. But each of you should make up your own mind. Any followers who regard one version more important than others do it to honor their Lord. And any followers who use more than one version give thanks to God for each one, just like the ones who don't give thanks for the one version that they do use. Whether we live or die, it must be for God, rather than for ourselves. Whether we live or die, it must be for the Lord. Alive or dead, we still belong to the Lord. This is because Christ died and rose to life, so that he would be the Lord of the dead and of the living. Why do you criticize other followers of the Lord? Why do you look down on them? The day is coming when God will judge all of us. In the Scriptures God says,

"I swear by my very life
that everyone will kneel down
and praise my name!"

And so, each of us must give an account to God for what we do. We must stop judging others. We must also make up our minds not to upset anyone's faith. The Lord Jesus has made it clear to me that God considers all versions of his word fit to read. But if you think some versions are unfit to read, then for you they are not fit to read. If you are hurting others by the versions you use, you are not guided by love. Don't let what version you use destroy someone Christ died for. Don't let your right to read any version bring shame to Christ. God's kingdom isn't about which Bible version to use. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people. We should try to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith. Don't let your freedom to use various versions destroy what God has done. All versions are fit to read, but it is wrong to cause problems for others by what you read. It is best not to do anything that causes problems for other followers of the Lord. What you believe about these things should be kept between you and God. You are fortunate, if your actions don't make you have doubts. But if you do have doubts about what version you read, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin.

Revised, December 4, 1999