Can we sin when we're asleep? Depravity in Dreams?
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Have you ever awakened from a dream that left you feeling disturbed or guilty?
I really, really, dislike those dreams. When you do something when you're asleep that you'd be mortified if you'd done it in real life... it can be horribly unsettling.
It seems almost a little silly, really, when I wake up from dreams like that. Dismissing it as "just a dream" doesn't shake that "ick" feeling, though. I don't need to go into examples, but I think we've all (unless you're the kind of person who doesn't dream at all) done some awful things in our dreams.
Does that mean we sinned? I mean, Jesus said if we lust after someone, we commit adultery in our hearts (Matt 5:28). That would suggest our thought lives can be sinful.
How do we reconcile our dream experiences with our waking faith? How do you shake that feeling that you've done something wrong, even when you know it was just a dream?
For believers, dreams can be particularly challenging when they seem to contradict our moral convictions or spiritual aspirations.
First, it's crucial to recognize that dreams, while potentially unsettling, do not equate to reality. The prophet Isaiah vividly illustrates this distinction: "As when a hungry person dreams of eating, but awakens hungry still; as when a thirsty person dreams of drinking, but awakens faint and thirsty still" (Isa 29:8). This metaphor underscores the fundamental difference between dream experiences and waking actions. Our unconscious imaginings, no matter how vivid or disturbing, do not carry the same moral weight as our conscious choices.
However, this does not mean we should dismiss our dreams entirely. While we might not actively sin in our dreams, it doesn't mean the dreams weren't sinful. In other words, it still comes from someplace inside, from the desires and passions of the flesh. It's a reminder that despite our conscious effort to pursue God with pure hearts and minds, the flesh remains weak, particularly when we're unguarded.
We aren't just sinners because we sin. We sin because we're still sinners in the flesh. That's why abstaining from sin doesn't mean you don't still need grace. Even if you can't recall a sin you've done on a given day, it doesn't mean you can let pride swell up over your accomplishment. We're still reliant on grace.
In that respect, dreams can be incredibly helpful in identifying the ways that the enemy might be attacking us according to the flesh. When we have our guard up, when we protect our minds through meditation on God's Word, through godly music, or through the company of our fellow believers... when we let our "guard down" (which happens when we sleep) it can be revealing.
In terms of spiritual warfare, it makes sense.
While it isn't a Christian Book, in "The Art of War" (a text still taught at Westpoint!) it's actually suggested that at times when the enemy seems to have the upper hand, when we are weaker, we must take heed to observe the enemy more carefully than even when we're winning the war. It's in those moments of our weakness that the enemy is more likely to expose his tactics.
Recognizing the "sinful patterns" at work, the assaults of the enemy, when we sleep can similarly clue us in to how the enemy might be trying to attack us in the flesh in ways that might appear to be more subtle, or unclear, when we're awake and on guard.
I think that applies to our dreams. When the conscious mind sleeps, and the unconscious mind is active, it can expose a lot about the ways we're being tempted day-in-and-day-out that we might not otherwise recognize.
While dreams themselves may not be sinful, they can serve as windows into the deeper recesses of our hearts. Jesus taught that "out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander" (Matt 15:19). Our dreams, then, may reveal aspects of our fallen nature that we might not readily acknowledge in our waking hours.
To put it another way, sinning in your dreams doesn't mean you actually sinned (you didn't), but it does serve as a reminder that you are still a sinner...
... a sinner saved by Grace.
It means that even though you have the victory, the enemy still rages. You have every weapon at your disposal to defeat the enemy. Jesus already won the victory for you. But even in the wake of a war, there are often skirmishes and attacks by defeated forces who are defeated, but haven't yet submitted to the victors.
This recognition should lead us not to despair, but to a deeper appreciation of God's grace and a renewed commitment to holiness. The apostle Paul exhorts us to "put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry" (Col 3:5). This process of sanctification extends even to our thought lives and, by extension, our dream lives.
Yet, how do we practically engage with this reality? Several key principles emerge from Scripture and sound theological reflection:
1. Acknowledge the reality of our fallen nature: Rather than being shocked by the content of our dreams, we can view them as reminders of our ongoing need for God's grace. This humility aligns with Paul's candid admission of his own struggles: "For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature" (Rom 7:18).
2. Resist the temptation to dwell on sinful dream content: While we cannot control the initial thoughts that enter our minds, we can choose how to respond to them. As Martin Luther once put it, "You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair." This principle applies equally to our waking thoughts and our reflections on our dreams.
At the same time, that it makes you feel a little "ick" is actually a good sign. It means your conscience is aligned with God's Will. It means you recognize the sin that your mind (for whatever reason) dwelled on while sleeping. If you were a total reprobate, and rebellious against God, you wouldn't feel guilty.
Sometimes, feeling guilt is a sign of the Spirit's presence. It's a good thing. I know this conflicts with are "therapeutic" culture, where we try to avoid any negative feelings at all costs... but there's a reason God wired us this way. Guilt/shame/embarassment can have a Godly function in our lives.
3. Cultivate a mind focused on God: Paul's exhortation to the Philippians provides a powerful antidote to troubling thoughts and dreams: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Phil 4:8). By intentionally filling our minds with godly content, we create a fertile ground for more edifying dreams.
I have a prayer app that guides me through Biblical meditations, scripture readings, and contemplative prayers. Listening to that as I go to sleep helps tune my mind to godly things before falling asleep.
4. Recognize the limits of our control: While we can influence our thought patterns, we must also acknowledge that we cannot perfectly control our unconscious minds. This realization should lead us to a deeper reliance on God's grace. As Paul reminds us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).
5. Use dreams as prompts for prayer and self-examination: Rather than being paralyzed by guilt over dream content, we can view unsettling dreams as invitations to deeper prayer and self-reflection. The Psalmist models this approach: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts" (Ps 139:23).
7. Remember the promise of ongoing transformation: Paul assures us that "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil 1:6). This promise extends to every aspect of our being, including our unconscious minds.
As we grapple with the complexities of our dream lives, we can find comfort in the words of Romans 8:1: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." This assurance frees us from undue anxiety over our dreams and empowers us to pursue holiness with confidence in God's transforming grace.
Moreover, we can take heart in knowing that our struggles with dreams are not unique to our modern context.
Throughout church history, believers have wrestled with similar questions. The desert fathers and mothers of the early church, for instance, devoted significant attention to the spiritual significance of dreams and the importance of guarding one's thoughts.
In our contemporary world, inundated with images and stimuli that can fuel our imaginations in unhelpful ways, the challenge of maintaining pure thoughts—both waking and sleeping—may seem more daunting than ever. Yet, the Lord knows our minds. We pray that he would guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philip 4:7).
In Jesus' name,
Judah