“Who does not need Truth Encounter?" This is an important question because it's incorrect to assume every Christian with ongoing issues also NEEDS Truth Encounter.”
Some Troubled Christians Only Need Information or Education; Others Need a Distinct Encounter with God
Once people observe or personally experience success with Truth Encounter, it’s easy for them to assume every Christian with a problem is a candidate for Truth Encounter. While their conclusion is understandable, it is also wrong.
That said, I want to first make clear that Truth Encounter is not a “silver bullet” cure for failing to practice Christian disciplines. To help you avoid that pitfall, please understand that…
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Truth Encounter does not replace the need for personal discipline, i.e. sleep, exercise, diet, etc.
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Truth Encounter does not replace the need for community & relationships
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Truth Encounter does not replace the need for accountability
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Truth Encounter does not replace the need to be informed by & through scripture
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Truth Encounter does not replace the need to conform our lives to scripture
It is still true that many troubled Christians simply need to apply faith and adhere to the Bible. Their core problem is either ignorance or disobedience to sacred Scripture. Regardless of ignorance or disobedience, the result is the same; they now suffer the consequences and the consequences get labeled as “issues” or “problems.”
Some Christians have issues because they do not know what the Bible says about those issues or they do know and they choose to ignore the instruction of Scripture.
A case for why some Christians do NOT need Truth Encounter
I was a student in an extensive Truth Encounter training program. In my opinion, their approach to the Truth Encounter process was sound. What I don’t think was sound was their belief that any Christian with a problem needed Truth Encounter (they called it Inner Healing).
The instructors tried to put every Christian in attendance through the Truth Encounter process. Certain people with valid issues had no “cleansing,” “renewing,” or otherwise spiritual experience whatsoever.
My suspicion of what was at fault was the belief: everybody with a problem needs Truth Encounter. Further investigation verified my suspicion.
I had the opportunity to interview the people who had an unsuccessful Truth Encounter experience. The reality was that these people were not on a track of discipleship. In other words, they may have been saved, but they were not obedient to Scripture in regard to their issues.
This group of people did not need Truth Encounter. They needed Biblical counseling or coaching to correct their thinking & compel their effort to change their living.
Unfortunately, the instructors then did what I discuss more fully in my article: How I Learned About Truth Encounter.
The instructors blamed themselves or the person in need. That is tragic because both groups had to suffer. The instructors saw themselves as failures and the people did not receive proper guidance.
CONCLUSION
People who have either personally experienced or witnessed Truth Encounter will often assume any Christian with a problem needs Truth Encounter. That assumption is incorrect; it is also dangerous because it can prevent a troubled Christian from pursuing the remedy they actually need. That remedy is Biblical counseling or coaching. Their exposure to Biblical counseling or coaching should: 1) inform them of their errors, 2) provide a Biblically sound directive for changing their error, and 3) offer encouragement to continue on their journey toward wholeness in spirit, mind & body. Truth Encounter is not for every troubled Christian.
