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Hey guys, I'm needing your help with something that's been plaguing me recently. I've been a Christian for many years now, but lost my way in high school and college. As I'm rededicating my life to Christ, I realize there are certain things I'm going to have to give up. One of those is pornography/masturbation (I'm currently single). I used to regularly watch porn about 3-5 times a week, but through a lot of prayer and discipline, I've gone about 3 weeks now without it. But my dilemma is that I've had a couple of "wet dreams" recently. By wet dream, I mean that I'm having sex in my dream and ejaculate. My concern is that those thoughts and images have been so deeply ingrained in my subconscious that I can't get rid of them. So, after all that, I guess my question is, is it a sin to have these types of dreams? I know I technically can't control it, but I'm still having those thoughts run through my head and receiving "pleasure" from it.

Thanks for the help and support, guys.

Don't worry too much about it.  If you feel convicted by the Lord (as opposed to condemnation from the devil) then ask for forgiveness and go on. 

Actually you should be thankful for the wet dreams.  Statistically only about 40% of men can have them.  Many of the rest of us have the dreams but wake up right on the edge of the "wet" part.  Not a fun place to be.   You either have to take matters "in hand" or you are in a very bad and frustrating place for a long time.

And forget about getting back to sleep ....

Also, please don't let "traditions" and "hearsay" guide you on this.   The bible does not mention masturbation, ever, not even once.

I say this with great caution.  Masturbation can lead to things which are unhealthy.  It is much like food.  One can use food as nourishment for his body, which is right and good.  One can also use food as a "drug" which leads to obesity, heart disease, etc.

Masturbation can likewise be used as a way of relieving stress and tension and pain in your genitals.  I agree that you are "lucky" to have wet-dreams.  I only ever had one in my entire life, I was about 15. 

I encourage you to stay away from porn.  Porn has no good purpose.   Whatever sexual activities you practice will train your sexual responses.   Porn is the "drug" use.  Habitual porn users, IF they ever have a successful marriage (which isn't likely) have to undergo extreme "detox" with professional therapy in order to "un-learn" the sexual responses taught them through porn use. 

Porn is like "drugs" in another way.  Over time, porn users find that they have to use more, and more, and more explicit, and more deranged and perverted porn to get the same responses.

Sex and food are very much alike.  We have a need for both of them, and there is a "right" way and a "wrong" way to satisfy the need.

Proper food use will keep us healthy and enjoying our lives.  So will the proper use of sex, which is between you and your wife.

Just like food, improper use of sex will make us unhealthy and hating our lives. 

QuoteMy concern is that those thoughts and images have been so deeply ingrained in my subconscious that I can't get rid of them

This is an example of the advice DaveW gave you.

Firstly, no.  You are not at that point, not even close to it. 
This is a "place" that you can, however, arrive at, through time.

The "concern" you have is valid.   This is coming from the indwelling Holy Spirit which Jesus has given to you.

The "have been so deeply ingrained" part of this comes from the devil.  The truth is, Jesus has VICTORY over the devil, and has destroyed his works in your life.  All you need to do is CHOOSE.  Choose to obey, and behave, accordingly to the "concern", and not to obey, nor behave accordingly to,  the "have been".


 

Hi, Rededicated.

Great advice so far.  I've only a few wet dreams in my life, but I can relate to your fears as my last one was actually just a few months ago.  In that dream, the woman was not my wife.  I woke up expecting to be horrified and feel sick, but I didn't.  It did unsettle me a little, but it wasn't the overwhelming sensation I thought it would be. 

I basically made a quick prayer of, "Lord, I don't know where that came from, but if it was from me, then please forgive me and help me move on."

About 5 minutes later, it didn't bother me anymore, and hasn't since.

If you feel convicted, then pray about it.  If you don't, just chalk it up to "one of those things" and go about your day.

Wet dreams are not a sin.  My concern though would be that sexual dreams might lead you into temptation in your waking life.

As long as you keep that under control, don't be too worried about it.

But if you don't already have one, try to find an accountability partner and/or spiritual mentor.

The issue of wet dreams is a tricky one, as it can be as a result of the biological function of the body (which is normal) or evil machinations of the devil (which is abnormal), since we know that the devil is a master of tricks and father of lies.

You don't need to condemn yourself at all, as it may make you feel rejected by God (a ploy of the devil to lure back into the sin), but fight back and tell the devil that you are no longer under his grip but a dear child of God.

However, one thing you need to ask yourself or consider in your heart is if the wet dreams were/are as a result of playing the clips of the past in your heart or having a fantasy about any sensual act. If that is the case, you will need to work on yourself the more, and try to move with friends that a godly or elders in the faith that you can be accountable to and talk to them about it. Before you do that, you need to talk to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to help you out in some certain things, since you are still healing out of the porn experience. Try and read Romans chapter 12, 1 Corinthians chapter 10 and Ephesians chapter 6. Put on your whole armor of faith and fight the good fight onto victory from the victory Christ has given you on the cross.

I used to think that I couldn't affect wet dreams. I still sort of stick to that, but the thing you want to watch out for, like other people said, is your over-active sex drive driven by porn. You'll notice that if you spend a lot of time with porn and sex, it'll be on your brain more and more, which might lead to wet dreams (depends).

The best things to do are to not think about it (do other stuff); when you do get turned on - distract yourself - it's lust and a chemical reaction; and find ways to restrict porn or any triggers. You need your brain to know that those women are not just bodies - they are people.
I feel like men, like women, are on some sort of cycle where they are hornier at different times.

And as always pray. You are not alone - so many, if not all, men struggle with sexuality. God can always help! :-)