--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we insist upon trying to imagine Him…" description: "\"If we insist upon trying to imagine Him, we end with an idol, made not with hands but with thoughts; and an idol of the mind is as offensive to God as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ed/anonymous-1_ends_if-we-insist-upon-trying-to-imagine-him_647386.jpg" --- # If we insist upon trying to imagine Him, we end with an… ![“If we insist upon trying to imagine Him, we end with an idol, made not with hands but with thoughts; and an idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ed/anonymous-1_ends_if-we-insist-upon-trying-to-imagine-him_647386.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ed/anonymous-1_ends_if-we-insist-upon-trying-to-imagine-him_647386.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ed/anonymous-1_ends_if-we-insist-upon-trying-to-imagine-him_647386.jpg) > “If we insist upon trying to imagine Him, we end with an idol, made not with hands but with thoughts; and an idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to picture the divine creates mental idols, which are as disrespectful as crafted idols. **In simple terms:** Imagining God forms harmful mental idols. Key Takeaway Avoid mental idols; focus on humility. Themes theity humility idolatry Mood contemplative serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal meditation - prayer - artistic expression - public speaking Key Concepts Theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep concepts concept of God abstract? - What practices prevent idolizing ideas? A Different Perspective Mental idols can still limit spiritual growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [End Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-idol-5185263/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-idol-925227/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idol/) [Idol Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idol-hands-1233800/) [Idol Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idol-mind-4541669/) [Idols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idols/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Offensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offensive/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thoughts Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-idol-5185262/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [When we try to imagine what God is like we must of necessity use that-which-is-not- God as the raw material for our minds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/when-we-try-to-imagine-what-god-is-like-we-must-of-necessity-use-that/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The Pope is an idol whose hands are tied and whose feet are kissed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-pope-is-an-idol-whose-hands-are-tied-and-whose-feet-are-kissed/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [If you love anything better than God you are idolaters: if there is anything you would not give up for God it is your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-love-anything-better-than-god-you-are-idolaters-if-there-is/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Anything that effects our decisions besides that of the Glory of God and His Will Alone is an idol. 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