Food Fight

Message Listening Guide

Guiding Question: How do Christians determine when it’s okay to “agree to disagree” on matters of theology or morality—and where must we draw the line?

Awkward Family Meals
Background: In the Roman church, tensions had shifted from what we saw in Acts 15. Now Gentile believers were the majority, and Jewish believers—still holding to certain dietary restrictions and sacred days—were feeling pressured to adopt the freedoms of the Gentile majority.
The Guiding Principle: Paul addresses these tensions by urging both groups not to quarrel over disputable matters (Romans 14:1).
Responsibility of the Strong: Those who feel free to eat and drink (the “strong”) should not flaunt their freedom in ways that would pressure others to go against their conscience (Romans 14:1-9).
Responsibility of the Weak: Those who abstain (the “weak”) should not judge or look down on those who feel free (Romans 14:10-18).
Responsibilities of All: Every believer should aim to honor the Lord with their decisions and live in step with their conscience. Above all, our goal should be to build up the body of Christ and pursue peace (Romans 14:19-22).

The Point: When we draw lines where Scripture is gray, we risk amputating the body of Christ.

Application: How do we determine if something is a gray area?
Scripture: Does the Bible clearly command or condemn this behavior or belief? If Scripture speaks clearly, our opinions must yield.
Conscience: Can I engage in this with faith, believing it honors Jesus? Would it violate my conscience—or pressure someone else to violate theirs?
Tradition: How has the Spirit led the historic church to discern this issue? Paul understood these were gray areas in part because of the Jerusalem Council’s decision in Acts 15, which had already addressed similar tensions between Jewish and Gentile believers.