Fantasy is a Sin According to the Bible

[sonny1293]

The Christian life is so frustrating, but I don't want to give up. I am a mentally challenge individual. I have gotten through life by fantasizing and movies. I have been depressed because I didn't like my life. David said, somewhere in Psalms, that he hated vain thoughts. Every little thing condemns me. I subconsciously go into fantasy. I could be laying in bed and drift off into fantasy. My fantasies themselves are not evil. Sometimes they are, but now that I am a Christian, I fight the evil fantasies. My fantasies would involve a movie I just watched or a show like Friends. "It was so funny when Phoebe said this or that. If I was there I would have said this or that." That's just one of many examples. I do not know how to just quite. I am starting to do my devotions 30 mins. a day, and I am fighting sin in my life, but this is just too hard. It just seems like every little thing condemns me.

 

[BFine]

During less active times...
Why not read some scripture and meditate on what
you have read?
Or you could work on memorizing some verses of scripture...
you could start a prayer journal and review it and pray for
folks etc.

 

[REPHAIAHPEDAHEL]

Sonny that is what happens when you are so focused on yourself! You are so-o-o self conscious and sin conscious! Look away to Christ and focus on Him! Become Christ conscious! When reading the bible, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more of Christ to you.

 

[hedrick]

Sonny that is what happens when you are so focused on yourself! You are so-o-o self conscious and sin conscious! Look away to Christ and focus on Him! Become Christ conscious! When reading the bible, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more of Christ to you.

I agree. Read the Gospels to see what Jesus cared about. He cared about how people treat each other. Jesus is certainly concerned about intentions. Most of Mat 5 is about that in one form or another. But you haven't shown any signs of having any intentions to do anything wrong. I don't believe Jesus wants people to feel guilty about every thought. He's concerned about motivations and intentions, the kinds of thoughts that lead to action.

I assume the OP refers to Psalm 119:113. The KJ translation is a bit misleading. According to Strong's, the word means "ambivalent, divided, half-hearted." NRSV translates "I hate the double-minded, but I love your law." This isn't about the kind of fantasy you're talking about. The Psalm is talking about those whose intentions aren't to follow the Law. Of course the OT Law isn't applicable to us in its original form, but for us the message would be the same as Mat 5 starting at 21.

 

[seeingeyes]

The Christian life is so frustrating, but I don't want to give up. I am a mentally challenge individual. I have gotten through life by fantasizing and movies. I have been depressed because I didn't like my life. David said, somewhere in Psalms, that he hated vain thoughts. Every little thing condemns me. I subconsciously go into fantasy. I could be laying in bed and drift off into fantasy. My fantasies themselves are not evil. Sometimes they are, but now that I am a Christian, I fight the evil fantasies. My fantasies would involve a movie I just watched or a show like Friends. "It was so funny when Phoebe said this or that. If I was there I would have said this or that." That's just one of many examples. I do not know how to just quite. I am starting to do my devotions 30 mins. a day, and I am fighting sin in my life, but this is just too hard. It just seems like every little thing condemns me.

David was also a musician, and the one dancing in the streets when the Ark was finally brought home. "Vain thoughts" are not flights of fancy, or being not-deadly-literal-about-all-things. No, 'vain thoughts' are double-mindedness. Using God when He suits you and abandoning Him when He does not.

If you believe that fiction is evil, you would have to toss easily half of what Jesus said, being parables and stories.

It is not 'every little thing' that condemns you. It is you that condemns you. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The question is whether you dare to believe this.

So by all means, do your devotionals every day. Soak up the words of the Father who loves man enough to send His son to die for the very people who would gleefully kill him.

Then ask yourself what Pheobe would say to that.

God's grace to you, brother.

 

[manitouscott]

All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is the word of God, not the word of Paul. Paul wrote it, God gave it to him to write. Therefore, read the word knowing that God is speaking directly to you and your struggles.

His word is the answer, as usual. Don't worry about how imperfect your/my behavior is. He knows our struggles, he knows we are but men.

For He Himself knows our frame; Hee is mindful that we are but dust Psalm 103:14

If anyone understands what it is like to be a man, it is our God.

Therefore, look only at the present, respond as God would have you respond; through turning to him for strength and guidance. And forget the past, it is forgiven you. One of my favorite verses when the enemy reminds me of how much wrong I have done:

Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Isaiah 43:18,19

 

[sonny1293]

All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is the word of God, not the word of Paul. Paul wrote it, God gave it to him to write. Therefore, read the word knowing that God is speaking directly to you and your struggles.

His word is the answer, as usual. Don't worry about how imperfect your/my behavior is. He knows our struggles, he knows we are but men.

For He Himself knows our frame; Hee is mindful that we are but dust Psalm 103:14

If anyone understands what it is like to be a man, it is our God.

Therefore, look only at the present, respond as God would have you respond; through turning to him for strength and guidance. And forget the past, it is forgiven you. One of my favorite verses when the enemy reminds me of how much wrong I have done:

Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Isaiah 43:18,19

Wow. You knew exactly what to say, for I am constantly being haunted by my past sins.

 

[SayaOtonashi]

Neither mind

 

[manitouscott]

Wow. You knew exactly what to say, for I am constantly being haunted by my past sins

I only recognize someone who is struggling with the same thing I struggle with: accepting the grace Jesus has given us in forgiving our sins. It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? I mean, I look at all the bad things I have done in my life (I did not accept Christ until about 1.5 years ago) like drugs, alcohol, sex, lying, anger, wrath, perversion, gossip, slander, hate, blasphemy etc etc etc and I just cannot fathom how I could be forgiven all that.

And the enemy knows my unbelief. He stalks me constantly looking for weakness or a moment when I faulter in faith and then pounces on me and one of his favorite weapons to use is guilt and shame about my past.

But,

John 3:16 says that even a sinner like me was given a chance to be saved, no strings attached save that I believe in God's son. My massive debt of sins wiped from my account to God.

You are saved, you are a son, in gratitude to the Father live to accomplish his will. You are not what the enemy wants you to believe. He is a liar.

 

[stormdancer0]

Fantasy is not non-Biblical. There are areas of fantasy - sexual, evil, disobedience - where it would be wrong. But if you're just daydreaming, it's not a big deal.

I sit and fantasize all the time about my husband being healed, and about life in Heaven. It all depends on what you're fantisizing about.

 

[sunshine456]

Sounds like you are addressing some important facts in your life and that you are making adjustments to coincide with the prescribe Christian walk. This is good as it is the essential process to altering our mental programming that we require to become that 'new' person in JESUS CHRIST.

Have faith, be steadfast and hold on as you stand and deliver.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Know one ever said life was easy, and being a true Christian is no easy task either.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Praise be to GOD the heavenly father and his son lord JESUS CHRIST forever>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[CounselorForChrist]

I never heard the bible say fantasizing is a sin. At least not with basic versions of it. I use to fantasize of me being like superman, coming out of the sky and stopping a bad guy from doing something. I never killed the bad guy, I just subdued them. So in my mind I don't see that as a sin.

Sexual fantasizing, yeah its a sin. Or if you do it all the time then its your idol, then its a sin. But calling it a sin flatout is not right. Because if that is the case then fantasizing about what heaven is like or meeting God, then that would be a sin too. And we all know thats not.

 

[LoricaLady]

My first prayer for you is that you will not feel so overwhelmed. We are all sinners, we all have fantasies & "junk thoughts" that we need to abandon. "Bring every thought captive..." But, you are aware of the problems,, you are praying about them.

Praying that you will learn to rest more in your Big Brother Messiah and let Him pick up and throw away what is too heavy for you to move on your own.

 

[ministerfortson]

Fantasy is not non-Biblical. There are areas of fantasy - sexual, evil, disobedience - where it would be wrong. But if you're just daydreaming, it's not a big deal.

I sit and fantasize all the time about my husband being healed, and about life in Heaven. It all depends on what you're fantisizing about.

Great response. I agree 100%

I just had to post a comment about your signature. You don't have to worry about coexisting with suicide bombers because they'll be dead. LOL

http://www.ministerfortson.com

 

[Philpy1976]

I never heard the bible say fantasizing is a sin. At least not with basic versions of it. I use to fantasize of me being like superman, coming out of the sky and stopping a bad guy from doing something. I never killed the bad guy, I just subdued them. So in my mind I don't see that as a sin.

Indeed!

Was J.R.R Tolkien committing sin when he created fantasy's like The Hobbit or The Lord of the rings?

I don't wish to overstep the line here but I really feel that a lot of people make following Christ harder than it needs to be.

God is the ultimate master of creation, this we know.
God made us in his image, this we know also.
So to create little stories (so long as they are not sinful in nature) can only be expected, can't it?

 

[sonny1293]

Indeed!

Was J.R.R Tolkien committing sin when he created fantasy's like The Hobbit or The Lord of the rings?

I don't wish to overstep the line here but I really feel that a lot of people make following Christ harder than it needs to be.

God is the ultimate master of creation, this we know.
God made us in his image, this we know also.
So to create little stories (so long as they are not sinful in nature) can only be expected, can't it?

Thank you