Newt Gingrich encourages pastors to run for public office
Through a video, former House speaker Newt Gingrich encouraged pastors to leave their churches and run for political office.
The recording was made for the American Renewal Project's "Pastors and Pews" event which was held last week in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
In the video, Gingrich warned that America is currently engaged in a two-front war which he identified to be against secularism and "Islamic supremacism." He claimed that secularists are using the power of the government to erode religious liberties while on the other hand, Islamic radicals are threatening to destroy Western civilization through conquest.
"You're at a point where some people have to have the courage to witness for Christ," said Gingrich. "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," he added.
"I'm particularly proud of what David has done in developing an entire program nationwide to encourage ministers to run for office," said Gingrich, referring to American Renewal Project founder David Lane.
The former House speaker explained that pastors and other people with a background in theology were directly involved in the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution.
"We have not seen the Judeo-Christian historic traditions threatened the way they are today, ever in American history," said Gingrich.
He argued that the founding fathers recognized the role of religion in America. He cited Benjamin Franklin's call for prayer at the Constitutional Convention and George Washington's recognition of the role of Divine Providence during the American Revolution.
Gingrich urged pastors to run for public office and told them to encourage others to run as well. He believed pastors have a duty to tell the truth about those who want to impose totalitarian secularism and those who want to kill in the name of Islamic supremacism.
He called on people who believed in God to take part in a "Great Awakening" which he hoped would be carried out through the use of popular social media platforms.
