~ Adapted from email correspondence ~
You are to be congratulated for the grace of God that is upon you. We know it is never by our own wisdom that we arrive at the truth. Everywhere we witness God’s power in shutting men’s eyes and minds so that they could not perceive the plainest facts and reasons. Faith like a mustard seed can move mountains, but most people do not have even this. A little truth from God is more precious than gold and rubies, but God enables us to know truth in its breadth, and depth, and beauty and wisdom. We could have nothing, but God has given us all good things.
Now that God has enabled you to break free from human tradition into his truth, take heed that you do not trade one human tradition for another one, even if the second is better than the first. It would be so comfortable for me to adopt one of the creeds of Christendom and become its scribe. Then I will have instant acceptance, instant fellowship, instant support, and multitudes to fight along my side. No matter how good a tradition is, you are always directly accountable to Jesus Christ. Even within the best of traditions, errors and disagreements abound, and there seems to be no rest. But I have discovered a greater peace than human camaraderie – in Jesus Christ there is peace in the midst of a storm. He is the sole master of my conscience, and in him I can stand up to a thousand years of human consensus.
The religious establishment accused Jesus of being an imposter and a magician. It denounced Paul as a heretic and usurper. This kind of error did not die when the Christian faith gained strength in the world, because this is not a pre-Christian error that died with the Pharisees, but it is a human error and sin. Therefore, do not be surprised that even the best of human traditions often oppose the truth of Christ and the power of the Spirit. Do not take part in this, and do not become a victim to this.
My view on many things agree exactly with some existing traditions, but my view on some things disagree with them. Have I not considered views different from mine in great detail? Do I not wish to agree with some existing system and have unity with somebody? Of course I do. But God’s word told me to say what God says: “Do not be terrified of them, or I will terrify you before them” (Jeremiah 1:17). It will be worse for me, if I know the truth and perceive their error, but agree with them anyway.
The fact that you can agree with me on some of these things again shows that the grace of God is upon you, that you are willing to heed truth and reason instead of allowing traditions and prejudices to make you their slave. However, it is not easy to be entirely liberated in following Christ, because men will try to subjugate you to their ideas, if not in this, then in that, or in another area. Pray that you will always be free to follow Christ alone with your whole heart.
Therefore, follow Christ directly – perhaps with other believers and with the church, but not through other believers or through the church. Never be hindered by men, their traditions, their procedures, and their self-conferred authority. Also, develop a faith that is whole, that is full and well-proportioned. An interest in apologetics is excellent, but continue to advance in all other areas of your faith, including theology, prayer, worshiping the Lord in songs, loving your spouse and children, diligence in your work, exhibiting honorable conduct before all men, and even legitimate spiritual powers and experiences (I am not against experience, but I maintain that truth does not come from experiences, but that experiences are judged and understood by truth).