Message by Larry Thacker Jr. from July 7: Responsibility of Freedom
In the previous message, I spoke from the first half of Romans 14, where Paul instructs us not to pass judgment on one other for our personal convictions. This episode picks up where we left off, covering Romans 14:13-23. He has clearly established that if one feels he must adhere to certain rituals or dietary restrictions, it is a sign of weak faith. However, he cautions us not to judge or be contemptuous of one another over these matters. They are not central to the message of the Gospel. Now he takes it a step further. We may be free, but we are never to use our freedom in a way that harms our brother or sister. For his audience, that meant one might avoid eating certain foods in deference to the consciences of those around them. For us, the concepts are still the same. Only the specifics may have changed.
