Are Wet Dreams a Sin in Christianity? What Does the Bible Say?
Medical specialists state that a wet dream is a rather typical occurrence among men. In the Bible, this is mentioned on some occurrences as “emissions” in most translations (Leviticus 15:16-18, 32; 22:4; Deuteronomy 23:10). In the areas where it is particularly mentioned, the only facts are about cleanliness under the Mosaic Law. However, the major question is “Are wet dreams a sin in Christianity.” It seems that the physical act of a nocturnal emission can sometimes happen and is not considered sinful. However, there may be moments in which a man’s lustful thoughts or actions lead to the nocturnal emission / wet dream. If you are a person who finds yourself experiencing wet dreams, know that this is not bad or wrong. However, if you start thinking about sinful activities before you fall asleep, then there may be other aspects of life to take care of. Are Wet Dreams a Sin in Christianity? A wet dream is a natural part of your life that can occur more often through sexual activities. The fact about it being a natural bodily process is right, the part of it being more frequent by sexual activity might not be. What is the reality is that no one knows what enables these wet dreams. Sometimes the dream trigger is sexual, sometimes it’s something else. All medicine can prove is that it is a stimulus from the brain that affects the sex organs of individuals. Sin is something that happens consciously, and a nocturnal emission can happen without knowledge. A nocturnal emission will not be considered a sin, but if your thoughts are filled with lust or greed, that is definitely a sin. What Does the Bible Say About Wet Dreams? When it comes to wet dreams and the bible, there are a few references about it. In Deuteronomy, Moses teaches the men of Israel about ritual uncleanliness. He says, “If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he shall go outside the camp. He shall not come inside the camp, but when evening comes, he shall bathe himself in water, and as the sun sets, he may come inside the camp” (Deut. 23:10–11). In the Old Testament, the formal law set Israel apart from other countries. It included obedience related to food, clothing, and hygiene. Israel had to follow these laws because God was among them, and they had to be ritually pure to remain in his presence. God differentiated between things that were sinful for Israel, and what could make them ritually unclean. Not all ritual uncleanliness was sinful. Some things like giving birth, menstruation, and even sexual intercourse in marriage all indicated people were ritually unclean, but not sinful. But through the individual teachings of Jesus, the formal law has been fulfilled and stated outdated in the New Covenant. God’s people no longer needed to follow it because we appear in God’s presence through Christ’s atoning sacrifice. We’re purified by his blood, once and for all (e.g., Heb. 10:10). Thus, we can conclude that the Old Testament did not consider the physical experience of wet dreams as sinful, only unclean. We also know that through Jesus, they now don’t consider us unclean before God. So, is having wet dreams a sin in Christianity – not necessarily but it all depends on your thoughts. The Spiritual Perspective on Wet Dreams Many spiritual disciplines have different opinions on sex and wet dreams, although there appears to be a general idea that they carry significance. Wet dreams happen at least once for 85% of people. They also don’t have to hold any underlying psychological, spiritual, or emotional value. And while nocturnal emissions are normal during sexual maturation, people of all ages can encounter them making it a regular phenomenon. Since the scientific knowledge of dreams is confined, experiences like wet dreams may carry more significance than societal intentions. So, if you believe your wet dream does contain a significant signal or meant something more, here are some common spiritual perspectives- A Change is on your way: Wet dreams could mean that you’ve held yourself back from something that was minimizing your potential and that now you’re all set to release. Excess Energy: Orgasms are spiritually cleansing, so it could indicate you have static energy blocking your lower chakras. Quest into other dimensions: Some people think that wet dreams with people you don’t identify with and in places that seem strange to Earth may be occurring in other dimensions. Subconscious Mirroring: Wet dreams can be noticed as subconscious mirrors in the context of our sexual desires or fears, and psychological thoughts related to sexuality. How to Address Wet Dreams as a Christian Now that we know the answer to “Is having wet dreams a sin in Christianity”, let’s learn how we can address wet dreams as Christians. Sleeping makes us feel vulnerable—both to real life and subconscious threats. As a result, we should be proactive while we’re conscious. Pray to God before sleeping – Pray to the Almighty who is always conscious and safeguards his sleeping children (Ps. 121:3–4). Pray before going to sleep for God to protect you in your dreams from your sinful thoughts Fill your mind with positive things – Be proactive while you’re awake to have good thoughts aligning with Philippians 4:8. Think upon pure, dignified, respectable things. If your mind is filled with only lustful thoughts while you’re awake, it’s not unexpected that those thoughts might appear in your dreams leading to wet dreams. Speak to someone you trust- If wet dreams are a more than regular problem, it’s humbling but a good choice to share this with a trustworthy friend, partner, family or even a therapist. Seek guidance from them and they will pray for you and encourage you. Perhaps you can pray through Psalm 139, which recognises the wonderful mystery of how God created our bodies, while also inviting him to search our hearts and lead us in the right direction. Don’t linger on