I’m reminded of that scene in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3. The serpent tempted the first humans with an opportunity to acquire more knowledge without having to obey the things God had revealed to them so far. Adam and Even chose to be educated beyond their obedience, believing the serpent’s lie that they would become like God in this way. Ironically, educating themselves beyond their obedience made them less like God.

More knowledge isn’t bad. When God told them not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it’s not like He had said, “I will never give you more knowledge.” But there is a kind of knowing that can only be obtained through obedience to the Creator.

I would argue that the devil (“serpent”) is pleased to see us gorging ourselves on more and more sermons, classes and bible studies if it means we’ll never get around to being like God.

We think that way a lot. At least I do. It seems easier to think that way than to generate and create actions that please the Maker. Easier to avoid things and call that faithfulness than figure out what we should be doing and do it.

“If this life is spent focused on not doing something, on avoiding things, perhaps eternity will turn out to be a quiet place.”

In response, I offer a quote from John Piper:

“The ethical question ‘whether something is permissible’ faded in relation to the question, ‘what is the main thing, the essential thing?’ The thought of building a life around minimal morality or minimal significance — a life defined by the question, ‘What is permissible?’ — felt almost disgusting to me. I didn’t want a minimal life. I didn’t want to live on the outskirts of reality. I wanted to understand the main thing about life and pursue it.”

Maybe this isn’t spot-on to what you’re talking about, but I think it’s at least a thought-provoking tangent.

We don’t want to be judged by others by giving an unexpected answer.

We don’t want to think of our faith outside of the comfortable box we’ve put it in.

We’re not provoked by the lesson/questions in the first place. Sometimes that’s the listener’s fault. More often, I think it’s lazy teaching/leading.

Every time I teach a class I’m amazed at the unwillingness to have honest discussion. In our tradition we are soo conditioned to give “Church” answers that we can never comfortably have a discussion in which we address things for which we do not have set answers. It’s frustrating.