Pastor Mark Burns of the Harvest Praise & Worship Center assured his congregation Sunday that the 22-foot golden statue of former President Trump unveiled at his Doral golf resort represents "honor and reverence," not worship, while simultaneously leading a dedication ceremony complete with altar, hymns, and what appeared to be genuflection.
"This is not a golden calf situation," Burns explained to reporters, standing beneath the gleaming effigy as members of his 400-person congregation laid flowers at its base. "The Bible clearly prohibits the worship of graven images, which is why we've structured this as a tribute ceremony with liturgical elements, not actual worship." The pastor then led the crowd in a responsive reading from Deuteronomy 4:16, which warns against making "an idol, an image of any figure."
The Bureau of Religious Consistency noted that the statue, commissioned by an anonymous donor for $2.3 million, features Trump in a golf pose with arms outstretched toward heaven, surrounded by engravings of his policy achievements and what Burns described as "inspirational Bible verses about leadership." The dedication plaque reads "In Honor of Divine Appointment," followed by Romans 13:1 about God ordaining governmental authority.
Burns clarified the theological distinction during his sermon, explaining that while ancient Israelites worshipped false gods made of gold, his congregation was merely "honoring God's chosen vessel through artistic appreciation." He then invited attendees to participate in what he termed "reverent observation sessions" scheduled for every Sunday morning at 11 AM, featuring prayer, communion, and group meditation facing the statue.
The ceremony included a blessing of the statue with holy water, anointing oil, and what Burns described as "sanctified golf balls from the Trump Organization." Local interfaith leaders expressed confusion about the theological framework, with Rabbi Sarah Goldman noting that "pretty much every major religion has some version of 'don't build giant golden statues of people and gather around them for ceremonies.'"
According to the National Archives, the most expensive government-commissioned statue in U.S. history cost $750,000 and depicted George Washington. Burns emphasized that since his statue was privately funded, it represented "free market faith expression" rather than taxpayer-funded idolatry, which he suggested was "completely different from a constitutional standpoint."
The Trump Organization released a statement saying the former president was "deeply honored by this artistic tribute" and planned to host the statue's first annual blessing ceremony next Easter Sunday, pending permit approval from Miami-Dade County's Department of Large Religious Installations.
Burns concluded Sunday's service by reminding his congregation that Moses destroyed the original golden calf not because it was golden, but because it wasn't the right person.