Tribalism is everywhere, in politics as well as matters of faith. And who doesn't want to be on the side of truth? In a letter John Newton warned of the damage that crusading, no matter how well-intentioned, can do to our hearts.
Defeating A Party Spirit
July 10, 2009
In other words, he was eminently qualified to make the following observations.
The pride of our heart insensibly prompts us to cast about, far and near, for arguments to justify our own behavior and makes us too ready to hold the opinions we have taken up to the very extreme that those among whom we are newly come may not suspect our sincerity.
In a word, let us endeavor to keep close to God, to be much in prayer, to watch carefully over our hearts, and leave the busy warm spirits to make the best of their work. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him and that wait on Him continually; to these He will show His covenant, not notionally, but experimentally.
A few minutes of the Spirit's teaching will furnish us with more real useful knowledge than toiling through whole folios of commentators and expositors; they are useful in their places and are not to be undervalued by those who can perhaps, in general, do better without them; but it will be our wisdom to deal less with the streams and be more close in applying to the Fountainhead.
The Scripture itself and the Spirit of God, are the best and the only sufficient expositors of Scripture. Whatever men have valuable in their writings, they got it from hence; and the way is as open to us as to any of them. There is nothing required but a teachable, humble spirit; and learning, as it is commonly called, is not necessary in to this. I commend you to the grace of God.