Why do we dream?

Dreams: An Investigation by One Christian Dreamer

What role do dreams have in our Christian lives?

What a question! Answering such a question is no easy feat (I would know). Answering this question involves outlining the purpose, discernibility and interpretability of our dreams. We can start answering such a complex question by starting with another question; why do we dream?

Purpose of dreams

This is where the wild ride begins. I hope you’re strapped in tightly. 

To understand the purpose of dreams, we need to understand the source of dreams. Who gives or allows us to dream? It’s no surprise that theologists and laypeople have lots of different points of views, but I want to unpack this from two perspectives: logically and spiritually. 

Where do dreams come from?

Let’s begin with the logistical arguments. One view is that there is psychological significance to our dreams or visions that are devoid of any divine influence. Dreams then are merely caused by our reigning thoughts and emotions at the point of dreaming. For example, emotions like desire, sexuality and aggression or daily life challenges whether they be physical, spiritual or mental seep into our dreams.  However, this view is not without its flaws. As a Christian, we know that every good thing comes from God. So while we can believe that internal desires are the source of our dreams, God is the one who allows them to come to pass and allows them to be used for your benefit. If dreams from your own psyche reflect your mental state (whether it’s their thoughts, emotions and desires) during a specific time in your life or challenging situation, then understanding these dreams can give helpful insights to your emotional state. It can help reveal which area in your life requires further surrender to God. 

Now let’s look at the overtly spiritual arguments. Some believe that God does communicate through dreams like Samuel’s calling in 1 Samuel 3, Joseph’s dreams throughout his story in Genesis (like Genesis 37), and Daniel’s disturbing dream in Daniel 7. And there’s no doubt that prophetic dreams like those in the Bible are from God. However, if you don’t personally experience prophetic dreams or many of your Christian friends don’t experience prophetic dreams; you might begin questioning whether prophetic dreams are still relevant. 

Do people still have prophetic dreams?

While there are no passages in Scripture that claim prophetic dreams were only for people during Bible times, some might argue an interpretation of Acts 2:17 and Joel 2:28 tell us that dreams are no longer prophetic. 

“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
    Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
    your young men will see visions. (Joel 2:28 NIV)

“In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17 NIV)

However you interpret the two passages above, if your dream is divine in origin, it could be prophetic. But what about dreams that aren’t from God? Some suggest that demonic powers can influence our dreams.  

Dreams that aren’t from God are from…

Some believe that some dreams (or perhaps better identified as nightmares) come from demonic spirits, and perhaps this is true. There’s much research relating to warding (in the archaic sense) against dreams that are demonic in nature; and while the Bible is clear that “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour,” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV) I didn’t come across “explicit” biblical examples of the enemy’s direct influence on dreams. Thus, while parts of Scripture may support the possibility and probability of the devil’s indirect or partial influence on one’s dream, as a whole, there’s a lack of evidence to firmly state the devil can ‘hijack’ your dreams. In essence, dreams thought to have partial demonic influence may fall under the category of psyche-reflecting dreams, and can be interpreted or purposed similarly. As such, these dreams have the capacity to also be utilised to the believer’s benefit.

Is there a conclusion?

After all my research, I’m not surprised to find the endless number of opinions regarding what role dreams play in our Christian lives. However, the one thing I can be sure of is that Christians can’t deny that dreams are useful for encouragement and growth. Knowing this, I encourage you to not see dreams as a source of divination to be relied upon, but merely an extension of your life’s spiritual journey. No matter what you believe about dreams, any or all of your dreams could still further your spiritual growth. If you seek further clarification, I encourage you to seek answers from the one true source: God.

Questions for discussion:

  • How important is discernment in dream interpretation?

  • With what attitude should we approach dreams?

  • What is the importance of dreams relative to other aspects to the Christian life?

Bible passages for further reading:

  • Acts 2:17

  • Joel 2:28

  • Ecclesiastes 5:3

  • Genesis 37

  • Genesis 40

  • Genesis 41:1-40

  • Romans 8:28

  • Zechariah 10:2

  • 2 Corinthians 11:14

Christian Laydreams, dreaming, visions, prophecies1 Comment