"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every though to the obedience of Christ." -2 Corinthians 10:3-5
These verses used to make me wonder...does God despise imagination?
Since He created us to have one, the answer must be no. After all, the imagination grants us creativity, leading to artistic and scientific innovations. Creativity is part of what makes us reflect the image of God, and imagination can be used for good purposes.
Yet some Christians consider the imagination to be entirely evil, like how some consider all sex to be evil. Of course, sex isn't inherently evil. God created it!
The problem is the wicked heart of mankind, which twists normal sexual feelings into sexual immorality. Outside of God's established boundaries, sex becomes evil. Since sexual immorality is rampant these days, some Christians associate all sex with sin.
The imagination is similar, I think. The imagination of mankind is wicked from youth. Since we're born with a fallen nature, our imaginations are corrupt. As a result, most of what we spontaneously conjure in our imaginations is evil, and some Christians may suppress their creativity in order to avoid offending God.
Yet when we are redeemed by Christ, so are our imaginations. Christians must avoid immorality of the body and mind, but that doesn't mean denying our humanity. We aren't to stop using our imaginations, but to bring them under submission to Christ.
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