Hey GreenMunchkin. I understand your dilemma, as I struggled with it too.
I grew up on Kenneth Hagin Sr., Kenneth Copeland, K.C. Price, Watchman Nee, Smith Wigglesworth, and a few others. I never knew of "camps" or anything of the sort. The thought of it all still nauseates me. I was doing some research for my Life Group (home bible studies our church has) and came across this phrase "denominational affliction". That's what denomination is, imo, to the Body of Christ... an affliction.
I'm experiencing the "camp" mentality problem right now over something I said here in this WOF forum that has nothing to do with WOF specific beliefs, as I agree with WOF specific teaching. But because I did not choose the right icon, because I couldn't decide which one was correct to choose, being new here and being confused over all the options of this forum on so many levels.
Denominationalism certainly is "an affliction" as you said. And I stand by what I said in my post to the starter of this thread, the root problem with denominational "camp" mentality is pride. Pride of knowledge, pride of religion, and pride against others in the Body who "know in part and prophecy in part." Pride causes many in the different groups to think they know it all and prophecy it all, contrary to what Paul said and taught.
1 Corinthians 13:9 KJVR For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
This is why:
1 Corinthians 12:13-21 KJVR For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (14) For the body is not one member, but many. (15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? (18) But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (19) And if they were all one member, where were the body? (20) But now are they many members, yet but one body. (21) And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Having been a part of different denominations and parts of the restoration of truth including WOF, I can say from experience that there is a lot of religious pride that satan tempts people in each movement of restoration with. My understanding is rather that we need to glean and learn from the restored truth in each true restoration movement, and not "camp" out over one piece of restoration.
Great men of faith in modern times like Smith Wigglesworth and Kenneth Hagin were not the types to "camp out" and stop growing or moving forward in restoration of truth in our times. They were also not the types to be partaking in religious pride or pride of knowledge. Kenneth Hagin and I have similar gleaning testimonies, as we both were raised as children in the Baptist churches, but came over among the Pentecostals as the Spirit led us, and came over with WOF and other restoration truth points, growing and learning constantly as we go.
Those who do not do so, such as the Baptists we left behind that did not want to move on also, usually criticize us and think we've went into some "false" thing - some even say "of the devil." Religious pride. Pride of knowledge. Stagnant religion. Not good.
Thank you for your post,
David
