Posts by Pastor Thomas

Spiritual questions are everywhere right now, podcasts about Jesus, clips of Bible teaching, “deconstruction” threads, and honest curiosity about what Christians actually believe. Curiosity is real. But for many people, it never becomes a life lived for God. That gap has a name: curiosity without commitment.

Barna’s recent 25-year look at U.S. faith trends highlights the tension: signs of openness and interest can exist alongside a long-term weakening of core commitment measures, including how important people say faith is to them. In other words, we can talk about God more while being shaped by God less. The American Bible Society has reported something similar from another angle: many admit curiosity about the Bible or Jesus, even when their daily patterns don’t match that curiosity. Curiosity is not the enemy; it’s the doorway. The problem is when the doorway becomes the living room curiosity without commitment.

The problem: why “interested” isn’t the same as “changed”

Curiosity asks, “Is this true?” Commitment says, “If it’s true, I will live differently.” When we stop at curiosity, Christianity becomes one more topic to explore instead of a person to follow. The Bible becomes a discussion, not a direction. You can know the vocabulary of faith and still not have the life of faith.

And the effects are not small:

• Shallow roots: knowledge without endurance when pressure hits.

• Slow drift: habits form either way if we don’t choose them, the culture chooses them.

• Content replaces community: people feel connected, but they’re still alone.

• Church becomes occasional sampling: “I’ll drop in when it fits” replaces belonging and serving.

• Guilt and burnout: people dabble, feel stuck, then assume the problem is “me,” not the missing pathway.

That’s why curiosity without commitment produces a faith that can be talked about, but not relied on in the hard places.

Why Curiosity Without Commitment feels so normal

It’s not simply rebellion. Commitment costs something.

1. It threatens comfort. Following Jesus confronts habits and priorities.

2. It threatens control. Many want Jesus as help, not as Lord.

3. It threatens identity. Commitment means being known and that feels risky.

4. It requires repetition. We’re trained for quick inspiration, not slow formation.

So people keep collecting questions, waiting to “feel ready.” But readiness usually shows up after obedience, not before it.

A unique fix for Curiosity Without Commitment: the Practice First Covenant

Here’s a different approach: don’t ask people to commit to everything at once. Invite them to commit to one practice that matches their question and to do it with witnesses. This is not a canned “try harder” pep talk. It’s a pathway that turns curiosity into obedient momentum.

Use a simple 21-day experiment called the Practice-First Covenant:

1. Name the question. Write it plainly: “Can I trust God with my anxiety?” “Does prayer matter?” “Is Scripture reliable?”

2. Choose one practice. Pick a single, measurable action tied to that question.

   • Anxiety ? Pray Philippians 4:6–7 out loud each morning.

   • Prayer ? Set a 5-minute timer and pray before you touch your phone.

   • Bible ? Read one Gospel chapter a day and write one sentence: “What Jesus did, and what that means for me.”

3. Add witnesses. Tell two people. Ask them to check in twice a week with one question: “Did you do the practice?”

4. Review honestly. Don’t measure feelings; measure fruit. What changed in your choices, peace, relationships, and obedience?

This works because commitment becomes small enough to start, visible enough to stick, and spiritual enough to matter. Over three weeks, your question doesn’t just get answered it gets tested in real life.

If curiosity without commitment describes you, don’t wait for the perfect mood. Pick one question you already carry. Choose one practice tied to it. Tell two people. Start today.

And if you want help doing this with a church family, we’d love to walk with you at Apostolic Life Tabernacle. That cycle doesn’t have to be your story.

This week, make the Practice-First Covenant. Choose your 21-day practice and message us so we can support you. Don’t just explore faith—step into it, and turn curiosity without commitment into consistent discipleship.