Was Paul a hippie? :)

It seems to me that Paul is saying "let your conscience be your guide".  That seems kind of close to back in the day when people said "everybody has their own morality.  You do your thing and I'll do mine.".  Take a look and I'll comment more on the other side.

Romans 14:1-11(NKJV)

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 

For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 

Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 

Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 

He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 

For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 

For it is written:      “As I live, says the Lord,     Every knee shall bow to Me,     And every tongue shall confess to God.” 

There is a lot there I agree with.  The food thing for example.  I like meat.  Others don't.  That is fine.  Just don't try to force your vegan ways on me and I won't force my meat eating ways on you. 

But how far do we take this in relation to the Scriptures.  Isn't Paul actually saying that if your conscience allows, you can eat lobster even though Scripture back in the day said no shellfish.  Are we simply allowed to strike the Scriptures that our conscience say it is OK to strike? 

Interesting question isn't it?