I think you need to have the thorns to appreciate the rose.

Even if you choose to ignore the thorns, they are still there and sooner or later you will feel them acutely.
It's been my experience that in order to have a healthy understanding of life and the bible you need to have Romans 7 in order to have Romans 8. Much of the Bible is a written account of man suffering from sin, with sin and because of sin. You cannot read the whole bible and not get a heavy dose of reality as to mans condition.
But I think the modern church has often excelled in painting a completely unrealistic picture of reality of real people's conditions. To many religious people are taking the blue pill and not enough are taking the red pill (to steal some imagery from the Matrix). I think the art of spiritual gardening is making sure there is a proper balance between providing enough fertilizer (i.e., crap) and all the other nutrients and actions needed to maintain healthy growth. You need all the elements and a knowledgeable and attentive gardener to see things grow.

It's not all fun and games, prancing through the garden with glee. It takes a lot of death in order to produce life. It takes vision and commitment to seeing that vision come about. It takes work and sacrifice in order to see something beautiful bloom. People can walk into a scrumptious little Eden in someone's backyard and say..."I want to live in this." But have no clue to the hours of life that have been poured into creating such a haven.

The reality is there is always a snake in every garden.
Face it...if you want to walk in Eden than you have to deal with the serpent too.
I think to ignore him or preach like he isn't there or pretend that he hasn't bitten anyone is being unfaithful to the true story.

The earthly garden has been shut and now we must cultivate the heavenly garden and low and behold the serpent is even there too!

Man has been trying for centuries to expunge himself of his fallen nature but to no avail.
I think we need a more honest talk about the truth of where people really are and not try to continually put on a religious pageant that hides the painful realities of living life on this planet.