A Commanding Issue

Growing up in Sunday School we all were told about the 10 Commandments. And to this day the Cecil B. DeMille blockbuster movie titled the same is still watched. So even the most cloistered person at least knows about the famous list. And a recent golden statue of the current US President Donald Trump is causing a stir both in and outside the Church. I know on the feeds of my social media accounts my more left-leaning folk are making fun of Trump supporters for what they consider to be a blatant example of idol worship that is considered verboten by this commandment found in Exodus 20:4-5:

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor [a]serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God… (NKJV)

The towering statue is golden and at first glance appears to fit the calls for idol worship prohibited in the commandment. According to some, who consistently hate all things Trump, it is a way to make fun of conservative Christians who continue to support him. To be fair, there are some who may actually see the 47th president as a savior that could be considered god-like worship. And this statue follows on the heels of the meme of Trump looking like Jesus that prompted similar cries of outrage. I addressed this when it happened last month and the current kerfuffle, in my mind, is yet another example of the hysteria over anything Trump says or does. Such is the age we live in as this exemplifies what I call death by a thousand memes. But the question remains: are Christians idolizing Trump? A little background about the statue is in order if we’re going to understand the accusations and come to a Biblical conclusion.

Celebrating A Moment

The actual statue was crafted to symbolize the moments just after Trump was almost assassinated in Butler, PA on July 13th of 2024 where he defiantly raised his fist with blood on his face and yelled “fight, fight, fight.” So that needs to be noted. The photo taken of Trump with the flag in the background won the photographer, Evan Vucci high praise for capturing the iconic moment from the Trump campaign of 2024. Vucci said that it was more luck than planning when he took the picture, but it was a spectacular one regardless. The statue was meant to symbolize that moment and the patriotism of Trump. Lost in the moment was that it was gold in color and larger than life making it a target of the aforementioned idolatry charge. The previous meme of Trump as healer was called blasphemous by even his supporters so this statue isn’t seen for the spirit it was meant to capture. Still, there was good intentions behind it as seen in comments by Pastor Mark Burns on his X account:

One of the greatest honors of my life was leading the dedication of President Donald J. Trump’s statue to the world…This statue was not created for worship. It was created as a symbol of resilience, patriotism, courage, and gratitude. It was created to honor a man whom many may disagree with, but millions of Americans believe has done extraordinary things to make this nation stronger.

Burn’s comments, while sincere, didn’t stop critics from assailing him and his logic as seen in comments by liberal Christian activist Shane Claibrone on his X account regarding the statue:

You can’t make this stuff up. They just erected a 22-foot golden statue of Trump. It’s as if they’ve never heard the story of the narcissistic King Nebuchadnezzar — or the faithful resistance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Or the idolatrous golden calf in Exodus 32. This is simple. Do not bow down to idols. Do not be intimidated by tyrants. Follow Jesus. Not Trump.

Burns did address this sentiment in his post, though:

You may dislike President Trump. That is your choice. But you are in gross error if you think for one second that I worship this magnificent statue or anything made by human hands… We can disagree politically and still tell the truth spiritually. This was not idol worship. This was honor. This was gratitude. This was patriotism. And above all, Jesus Christ is still Lord.

Idolatry Or Honor

That really seems to be the distinction here. One camp castigates anyone who supports the statue and the other denigrates the other camp for not seeing it for what it really is. Such polarization is par for the course these days and we need to recognize the spirit of Antichrist behind the divisions. Trump is a lightning rod for some many reasons and is an easy target when his braggadocious speech and actions obscure his intentions. I believe he really does love America and is more caring than he is given credit for. Stories of how giving and helpful abound if his detractors are willing to be intellectually honest to look for them. But he is far from perfect. And this statue and the previous meme are evidence of him missing the perception of him as prideful, arrogant no matter the intentions. Any leader who gets things done will be controversial as seen in this quote from an article about past presidential campaigns in America and about President Abraham Lincoln:

In 1864, Harper’s Weekly helpfully published an article which contained a small compendium of some of the insults that had been lobbed Lincoln’s way: “Filthy story-teller, Ignoramus Abe, Despot, Old scoundrel, big secessionist, perjurer, liar, robber, thief, swindler, braggart, tyrant, buffoon, fiend, usurper, butcher, monster, land-pirate, a long, lean, lank, lantern-jawed, high-cheeked-boned, spavined, rail-splitting stallion.”

Harsh rhetoric aside, the question of idolatry remains. Pastor Burns is adamant the statue isn’t and used Bible verses to support his assertion:

Acts 17:24 says, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.” My worship belongs to God. My gratitude can still honor people. My faith is in Christ. My respect for a leader does not replace my reverence for the Lord. Before you judge, condemn, or spread false accusations, use spiritual discernment. 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.” Some of you know the voice of the Holy Spirit. Listen to that voice before you give room to the devil through lies, slander, and false judgment. Ephesians 4:27 says, “Nor give place to the devil.”

Idolatry is a matter of the heart as we see in this commentary from the Bible Hub:

Idolatry is fundamentally a heart issue, reflecting a misalignment of priorities and affections. It challenges the believer's loyalty to God and undermines the exclusive worship He demands. The Bible calls for a wholehearted devotion to God…

The commentary ends by cautioning us to see we are not immune from this sin:

While modern society may not worship carved images, idolatry remains a relevant issue. Anything that takes precedence over God—be it wealth, power, relationships, or personal ambitions—can become an idol. Believers are called to examine their lives, ensuring that their worship and devotion are directed solely toward God, who alone is worthy of praise and adoration.

While the statue of Trump is audacious I believe that the vast majority of people who support him aren’t idolizing him. I for one am not. And you shouldn’t either.