In my early life as a believer, I relied on the Christians around me, and my pastor to guide me in my growth. While there are basic core beliefs that define what being a Christian is, there are also secondary issues that may be expressed differently in individual believers and the churches/denominations where they worship.
In my thoughts, those core beliefs center around our need of reconciliation with God, both the divinity and the humanity of Christ, His sacrifice for us, and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. On a secondary, but still definitive level, the new Christian needs to understand the nature of Scripture as God’s authoritative word for us, and it as basis for sound doctrine.
When it comes to the less bedrock foundational issues, the kingdom of God is wide enough for many equally saved/dedicated/Bible believers holding varying views based on how God has worked in his life, and in the lives of those that provide his spiritual nourishment.
In my early days, I felt that the one Truth was best expressed as my local church expressed it, and tended to note differences in doctrine as instances of them being wrong. Since my church provided scriptural references for their teaching, I tended to think of other views as unscriptural, simply because they disagreed with the way my congregation interpreted the Scripture. The fact that their reading and understanding of the same scripture
What those issues were are not really important. Many of those issues have been banned from posts on this site, not because they are unworthy of discussion, but because they tend to devolve to taking sides, with no-one willing allow his own position to be challenged, even within his own mind. They end up shouting past each other, with no-one learning anything, either about God, or themselves.
In my later years, I am much slower to assume that someone with a contrasting view on doctrinal issues misunderstands scripture. I am much more likely to listen to the other side, and attempt to understand both the position being advocated, and the devotion to God that the other person feels. When I can, I may state my understanding, but it is less an attempt to change someone else’s mind than it is to have them understand my views.
Most of my beliefs can still be traced back to the teachings I received at my first church after I accepted the Lord, but some have changed. I am less likely to conclude someone else must be wrong, and thus I am more likely to change my understanding. Does that make me too doctrinally pliant?
But there are limits. There are things on which I will not spend the effort. If someone comes wishes to discuss the “wonderful self-affirming aspects of Wicca”, I will only be trying to understand them as a person, and not really contemplating their religion.
A new Christian is not equipped for critical examination of doctrine. It may be that spiritual maturity lies partly in understanding what is bedrock foundation, and what is doctrinal. Hold fast to the foundation, and examine the doctrine. More and more in my life, I find myself trying to find the middle ground between self-assured obstinacy and foundation-less vacillation.
I pick much fewer doctrinal fights, I see, or at least understand more points of view. I do shift my views, but slowly. Is that luke-warm?