Shepherds for Sale. Megan Basham. 2024. 352 pages. [Source: Library] [Christian nonfiction] [4 stars]
First sentence from the introduction: When a group of friends from church invited Bailey Anderson to put on a pink knitted hat and join them at the 2017 Women's March, she assumed her confusion was a matter of geography.
Shepherds for Sale is a controversial new nonfiction book alleging a lot of missteps within the church leadership or community--namely the convenient-not-so-convenient label evangelical church. The allegations are serious leaning more towards being shocking, alarming, disheartening, discouraging, frustrating. The book without a doubt jumps right into politics, society, and culture, aka THE WORLDLY WORLD-WORLD. Each chapter has a subject. The overall theme of the entire book may be that the church is TOO influenced--literally, figuratively--by the world. But each chapter has a relatively narrow focus. Some leaders may feature into multiple chapters, but that is not always the case.
Chapter one focuses on the issue of climate change. Chapter two focuses on illegal immigration. Chapter three focuses on the pro-life movement. Chapter four focuses on so-called Christian media. Chapter five focuses on Covid-19. Chapter six focuses on critical race theory. Chapter seven focuses on the me too movement. Chapter eight focuses on the LGBTQ community.
These eight subjects typically cause strong, emotional reactions. Christians' opinions might be on a wide, broad spectrum on at least some of these issues.
The book alleges that there are certain churches, certain denominations, that are ultimately compromised, sell-outs, that are intentionally or perhaps unintentionally trying to brainwash their members to align more closely with the world. In a few cases, she has discovered a money trail. Instances where leftist, liberal, and/or atheist organizations have paid huge sums of money to certain church denominations. But money doesn't have to exchange hands. There isn't always a money trail. (Obviously). There are many instances where it's more about wanting to please everyone, wanting to keep the peace, not wanting to offend, or perhaps more NOT wanting to get canceled. Though the book title may imply that it is about money--selling out literally for money--I think more often than not the examples are more subtle.
So I mentioned the book was controversial. It isn't the topics being covered so much that makes it controversial. Nor is it necessarily her positions on the topics covered that make it so. It is her naming-names and giving examples in each chapter. At least one person--perhaps others have as well--as come forward and said that the quotes attributed are absolutely not correct. That is, Basham is arguing a position that is on a foundation--in particular instances, circumstances--of inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information. Does one instance of shaky reporting mean the whole book is inaccurate or exaggerated???? I would venture forth no. But it does call for more critical thinking as you read it.
My thought is that even if only half of what she reports, alleges, argues is founded in truth, there is reason for concern. My other thought is that each chapter should be judged--evaluated--on its own. The subject matter varies greatly. Depending on the subject, you may already be familiar with some of the concerns, know the positions and people involved.
© Becky Laney of
Operation Actually Read Bible
