English
Português
Español
Français
Response
A fantasy is an imagined act or event created in the mind, often involving something impossible or unlikely. A sexual fantasy involves imagining a sexual act or event. Depending on the content and characters involved, a sexual fantasy can be considered inappropriate. Any imagined scenario that goes against moral, ethical, or spiritual values is deemed sinful.
Imagination is a divine gift, and fantasy is a natural aspect of human psychology. We often fantasize without even being aware of it. Fantasies can vary from envisioning a smooth commute with all green lights to imagining extreme and physically impossible acts. These fantasies typically stem from our personal experiences and are attempts to shape a preferred reality rather than accepting the existing one. Some individuals become so engrossed in their fantasy world that they detach from reality and genuine relationships. Certain online platforms enable users to create virtual personas and live vicariously through them. Sexual fantasies often play a role in this virtual realm, allowing individuals to simulate sexual encounters without physical presence.
Proverbs 23:7 teaches that our thoughts define who we are. While some may argue, “I’m not actually doing anything wrong,” the Bible emphasizes the importance of our thought life and stresses that even our fantasies should align with God’s will. Jesus stated, “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” «For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,Fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: », (Matthew 15:19). He also said that even looking upon someone with lust is as the sin of adultery «but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. », (Matthew 5:28). If the sexual fantasy consists of actions or words that are not in line with God’s will for us, then it is sin. Sexual fantasies about our marriage partners may not be sin, if we are morally free to act upon those fantasies. But if we are imagining engaging in sexual acts with someone to whom we are not married, it is lust. And lust is sin.
We cannot always control the thoughts that pass through our minds. We are exposed to sexual stimuli continually, and it can be challenging to process these stimuli in ways that honor God. Ephesians 6:16 talks about the “fiery darts of the wicked one.” Our minds are Satan’s target for those darts, and sexual fantasies are one of the fiery darts that, if unchallenged, can lead us into sin. James 1:13–15 shows us the progression of sin, starting with an “evil desire.”
When evil desires arise in our hearts, we have a choice about what we do with them. We can entertain them, allowing them to develop into full-blown fantasies, or we can “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” «casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; », (2 Corinthians 10:5). As Christians, we have the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives to enable us to suppress the beginning of an ungodly fantasy. When we realize we are daydreaming about something that God has said is off-limits, we cAn quickly arrest that thought, confess it to Jesus, and ask His forgiveness «If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. », (1 John 1:9).
At a later time, it may be helpful to scrutinize the kind of fantasy that seems to dominate your thoughts. Fantasies often reveal unmet needs that God wants to supply in healthy ways. Similarly, sexual fantasies can showcase a wounded place in our spirits that God needs to heal. If the fantasies persist and are disturbing, seeking godly counsel can help uncover the root of the heart wound producing them. When in doubt about a sexual fantasy or any other consuming thought, we can always apply the Philippians 4:8 test to see if it is pleasing to God. He wants to be Lord of every part of us, including our fantasies.
