America is at "war" and pastors must lead in the fight to save the nation's Christian values and faith.

This is how former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich described the situation facing Christians in America at a critical moment in their nation's history, according to the American Renewal Project.

Speaking at a recent Pastors and Pews event in South Carolina, Gingrich urged pastors to lead the fight against forces threatening to undermine America's Christian foundation by stepping away from the pew and running for political office.

"You're at a moment in history that is as defining as anything in the Old Testament," he said. "You're at a point where some people have to have the courage to witness for Christ, some people have to have the courage to stand up and tell the truth to their flock, and some people have to have the courage to get into the public arena themselves."

Gingrich said the United States is in the midst of a "two-front" cultural war.

"On the one front you have a secular totalitarianism that wants to use the power of government to coerce us on every level," he said, pointing out that the government even wants to control what happens inside the church.

"You're allowed to sort of, vaguely, believe in your faith as long as you don't talk about it, certainly don't do anything in public about it, and that religion should be reduced to one-hour on Sundays; and even then you better be careful what you say," he said.

On the other hand, Christians also have to contend with "the academic, news media, and the judicial" system, forces that are challenging the Christians' "right to go to God [and] having the right to preach salvation through Christ."

Gingrich believes it is not too late to save America—if pastors exert their best effort to uphold the nation's Christian values and advance the Christian faith.

"We have not seen the Judeo-Christian historic traditions threatened the way they are today, ever in American history...you have a chance to turn all this around," he said.

Aside from running for office, pastors should also encourage their congregations to run for office as well, Gingrich said.

"You have a duty to have the courage to stand up and tell the truth," he said. "Tell the truth about those who would....force us to bow to the power of the government in order to do things that our religion forbids."