Donald Trump: Has evangelical support for him peaked?

Reuters

Evangelical support for Donald Trump appears to be waning, despite one prosperity preacher claiming anyone who opposes him will be "condemned".

One pastor, David Jeremiah, despite praying with Trump last Monday, has since explicitly stated he does not endorse his bid for presidential candidacy.

However, a Florida-based prosperity teacher, who was also at the prayer meeting, has said that "any tongue that rises against him will be condemned according to the word of God".

Rev Paula White prayed: "Father, we just secure him right now by the blood of Jesus. We thank you that no weapon formed against him will be able to prosper and any tongue that rises against him will be condemned according to the word of God.

Despite these warnings, some Christian leaders have distanced themselves from Trump.

Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, dismissed Trump's appeal as mostly to "prosperity gospel types, which are considered by mainstream evangelicals to be heretics".

Jeremiah, pastor of a megachurch in El Cajon, California, explained that he attended the meeting because he "cares deeply about standing up for Christian values" and was "interested in hearing what Mr Trump had to say to religious leaders about the subject".

At his meeting with Trump last Monday, Jeremiah prayed for him saying: "Today we pray for Donald Trump. We pray for his family. We pray for his associates. We pray that what he has heard today from those who have spoken into his life, he will consider. Lord I pray you will bring into his life a strong African-American who can stand with him and represent that community so that his voice can be heard even in a stronger way there."

He added that Trump "not only says what he believes but is willing to put himself in jeopardy for what he believes and will help us economically and spiritually in every way in this nation".