--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every idol, if you scratch it, is a…" description: "\"Every idol, if you scratch it, is a mirror. We worship ourselves.\" — R. C. Sproul, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c55/r-c-sproul-jr-20337_idol_every-idol-if-you-scratch-it-is-a-mirror_1607452.png" --- # Every idol, if you scratch it, is a mirror. We worship… ![“Every idol, if you scratch it, is a mirror. We worship ourselves.” quote by R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c55/r-c-sproul-jr-20337_idol_every-idol-if-you-scratch-it-is-a-mirror_1607452.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c55/r-c-sproul-jr-20337_idol_every-idol-if-you-scratch-it-is-a-mirror_1607452.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c55/r-c-sproul-jr-20337_idol_every-idol-if-you-scratch-it-is-a-mirror_1607452.png) > “Every idol, if you scratch it, is a mirror. We worship ourselves.” [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Idols reflect our own selves; worship reveals self‑adulation. **In simple terms:** Idols are mirrors of ourselves. Key Takeaway Beware self‑worship in idolization. Themes self reflection idolatry Mood critical reflective Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - religious practice - celebrity culture - personal introspection Key Concepts theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does your idol say about you? - How can you shift focus from self to others? A Different Perspective Idol worship can be socially ingrained. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idol/) [Idol Scratch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idol-scratch-6124452/) [Idols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idols/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Mirror Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror-worship-6124451/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Scratches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scratches/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [“‎A careful reading of the Old and New Testaments shows that idolatry is nothing like the crude picture that springs to mind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-keyes/a-careful-reading-of-the-old-and-new-testaments-shows-that-idolatry/) [Richard Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-keyes/) > [I can't watch American Idol... it's like karaoke without the booze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-can-t-watch-american-idol-it-s-like-karaoke-without-the-booze/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Their Bibles had become an idol before God. That the cross, as a symbol, was an idol, even their own self-image was an idol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-d-richardson/their-bibles-had-become-an-idol-before-god-that-the-cross-as-a-symbol/) [Trevor D. Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-d-richardson/) > [I'm a huge fan of Billy Idol. I spiked my hair every day like him in 7th and 8th grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dierks-bentley/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-billy-idol-i-spiked-my-hair-every-day-like-him-in/) [Dierks Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dierks-bentley/) > [My greatest idol– I’'ve always told everyone – was Robinho as he was from Santos and I was always following him, so I'’m a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/my-greatest-idol-i-ve-always-told-everyone-was-robinho-as-he-was-from/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [I think American Idol is a great career launcher. A blessing for all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latoya-london/i-think-american-idol-is-a-great-career-launcher-a-blessing-for-all/) [LaToya London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latoya-london/) > [You're still my idol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/you-re-still-my-idol/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [Someone like Billie Jean King is completely my idol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/someone-like-billie-jean-king-is-completely-my-idol/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [American Idol allowed us to find Carrie Underwood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/american-idol-allowed-us-to-find-carrie-underwood/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [Since we launched the original 'Pop Idol' in England, I've remained close with Simon Fuller. Working as executive producer on 'American idol' for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/since-we-launched-the-original-pop-idol-in-england-i-ve-remained/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [My idol was always Romario. He was playing in Holland at the time and I loved him. His skills, technique, I loved him he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-van-der-vaart/my-idol-was-always-romario-he-was-playing-in-holland-at-the-time-and/) [Rafael van der Vaart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-van-der-vaart/) > [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/) > [“Idolatry is not the use of images, but confusing them with what they represent, and in this respect mental images and lofty abstractions can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-wilson-watts/idolatry-is-not-the-use-of-images-but-confusing-them-with-what-they/) [Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-wilson-watts/) > [We think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case. The greater the good, the more likely we are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/we-think-that-idols-are-bad-things-but-that-is-almost-never-the-case/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Idols aren't stone statues. They are thoughts, desires, and longings that we worship in the place of the true God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elyse-fitzpatrick/idols-aren-t-stone-statues-they-are-thoughts-desires-and-longings/) [Elyse Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elyse-fitzpatrick/) ## More by R. C. Sproul, Jr > [It is false to say that what we don’t know can’t hurt us, especially when it comes to the Bible. If ever there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/it-is-false-to-say-that-what-we-don-t-know-can-t-hurt-us-especially/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [Nostalgia is the aching realization that you can't go back again. The longing, no matter how intense, can never be met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/nostalgia-is-the-aching-realization-that-you-can-t-go-back-again-the/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [Creeds are definitions of what it means to be a Christian. They are fences that, albeit imperfectly, seek to separate sheep from goats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/creeds-are-definitions-of-what-it-means-to-be-a-christian-they-are/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [The One who knows the fullness of my sin loves me as my Father right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/the-one-who-knows-the-fullness-of-my-sin-loves-me-as-my-father-right/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [Because He freely owned my guilt I may freely own my sin. Guilty as charged, and yet, not guilty at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/because-he-freely-owned-my-guilt-i-may-freely-own-my-sin-guilty-as/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [Now that Hillary Clinton is officially running for President I am officially not going to vote for her. It's official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/now-that-hillary-clinton-is-officially-running-for-president-i-am/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [We do not homeschool to avoid wicked people. We homeschool so we wicked people can talk all day about the one Man who wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/we-do-not-homeschool-to-avoid-wicked-people-we-homeschool-so-we/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [In abortion they are trying to destroy the last bastion of the image of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/in-abortion-they-are-trying-to-destroy-the-last-bastion-of-the-image/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [I hope that we will learn from each other, but most of all that we would learn from God's Word, which equips us for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/i-hope-that-we-will-learn-from-each-other-but-most-of-all-that-we/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [God's own foolishness is stronger than men. Do we believe that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/god-s-own-foolishness-is-stronger-than-men-do-we-believe-that/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [Things are not as they should be. Because He's not finished yet. They will be. Rest assured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/things-are-not-as-they-should-be-because-he-s-not-finished-yet-they/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [Sanctification is the process in which we become more aware of how sinful we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/sanctification-is-the-process-in-which-we-become-more-aware-of-how/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [The true gospelstands before the throne of God declaring, 'Jesus did it all.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/the-true-gospelstands-before-the-throne-of-god-declaring-jesus-did-it/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [I am not accusing God of sinning; I am suggesting that he created sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/i-am-not-accusing-god-of-sinning-i-am-suggesting-that-he-created-sin/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [God's pleasure with me is grounded in the accomplishment of Christ, not my own accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/god-s-pleasure-with-me-is-grounded-in-the-accomplishment-of-christ/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) [Explore all 31 R. C. Sproul, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) ## More Idol quotes > [Everybody out there watches the show and has expectations of wanting to be an 'Idol', but we're going to teach them how much hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bice/everybody-out-there-watches-the-show-and-has-expectations-of-wanting/) [Bo Bice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bice/) > [My dad has always been my idol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk/my-dad-has-always-been-my-idol/) [Hulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk/) > [I don't know how 'X Factor' works. I was only there as a guest judge for a day. But I watched 'The Voice' a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/i-don-t-know-how-x-factor-works-i-was-only-there-as-a-guest-judge-for/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [“‎A careful reading of the Old and New Testaments shows that idolatry is nothing like the crude picture that springs to mind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-keyes/a-careful-reading-of-the-old-and-new-testaments-shows-that-idolatry/) [Richard Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-keyes/) > [Strictly' is the most successful reality format in the world - it's in the 'Guinness Book of Records' - going to 38 countries. 'X…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-revel-horwood/strictly-is-the-most-successful-reality-format-in-the-world-it-s-in/) [Craig Revel Horwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-revel-horwood/) > [Being on 'American Idol,' the blessings of glasses have rained from the sky. I really would like to start a Danny line or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/being-on-american-idol-the-blessings-of-glasses-have-rained-from-the/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) > [I didn't know what I was in for when I joined 'The X Factor' - I underestimated it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-cole/i-didn-t-know-what-i-was-in-for-when-i-joined-the-x-factor-i/) [Cheryl Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-cole/) > ['The X Factor' seems to be more about building up personalities and people in tears. And it's not a new idea. The pre-Beatles pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/the-x-factor-seems-to-be-more-about-building-up-personalities-and/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [My father is my idol, and I have grown up watching his films. He is my biggest influence and inspiration. I have learnt a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-babu/my-father-is-my-idol-and-i-have-grown-up-watching-his-films-he-is-my/) [Mahesh Babu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-babu/) > [It was a dream come true working with Johnny Depp. He's always been my acting idol. Working with him and watching him work taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cook/it-was-a-dream-come-true-working-with-johnny-depp-he-s-always-been-my/) [Mason Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cook/) > [“It's hard to imagine a more biblical definition of devil worship than an exaltation of the self, an exaltation of the ego, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-d-moore/it-s-hard-to-imagine-a-more-biblical-definition-of-devil-worship-than/) [Russell D. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-d-moore/) > [There is not a more unhappy being than a superannuated idol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-not-a-more-unhappy-being-than-a-superannuated-idol/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [I recently met Michael Phelps. He is my absolute idol. I was totally starstruck. I did manage to get a few words out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-recently-met-michael-phelps-he-is-my-absolute-idol-i-was-totally/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [People in the U.K. are passionate about the 'X Factor' - it's their show, so you have to care. It's brought out a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulisa/people-in-the-u-k-are-passionate-about-the-x-factor-it-s-their-show/) [Tulisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulisa/) > [We think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case. The greater the good, the more likely we are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/we-think-that-idols-are-bad-things-but-that-is-almost-never-the-case/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) [Browse all 696 Idol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idol/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every idol, if you scratch it, is a mirror. We worship ourselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "R. C. 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