Summary
Shepherds for Sale is a 2024 book by Megan Basham focused on the alleged infiltration of American churches by progressive powerbrokers. Basham, a reporter for The Daily Wire, a conservative website and media company, draws on research to support her controversial claim that left-wing billionaires, foundations, and think tanks have targeted Christian institutions to co-opt them for political purposes. The book names high-profile figures, including George Soros and former Obama administration members, as key players in this purported campaign.
While supporters hail Shepherds for Sale as a crucial warning about the erosion of biblical values in evangelical leadership, critics have challenged its accuracy and motives. The book has been both praised as a bold, clear-eyed investigation and decried as propaganda, reflecting the deep divisions within contemporary American Christianity.
Plot
Shepherds for Sale explores the alleged infiltration of American evangelical churches by progressive influences. Author Megan Basham contends that left-wing billionaires, foundations, and think tanks have deliberately targeted Christian institutions, including media outlets, universities, megachurches, and nonprofits, with the aim of co-opting evangelicals for political purposes.
The author presents various examples of what she perceives as compromises within evangelical leadership. These include a renowned Presbyterian theologian supposedly supporting a congregation rebelling against his own denomination, and a celebrity megachurch pastor allegedly encouraging other pastors to alter their views on sexuality. Basham argues that many evangelical leaders are now promoting ideas that diverge from traditional church teachings on topics such as sexual morality, abortion, climate change, and racial issues.
According to the book, in exchange for adopting more left-leaning stances, many church leaders and institutions have received financial benefits, career advancements, prestige, and public acclaim. Basham claims to provide evidence of these transactions and names specific individuals involved in what she describes as “astroturf campaigns” designed to shift evangelical perspectives.
Shepherds for Sale particularly focuses on recent developments within major evangelical denominations and organizations, such as the Southern Baptist Convention. The book suggests that these religious institutions are experiencing internal conflicts over issues like critical race theory, and ministries once known for promoting traditional doctrine are now advocating for social justice causes. Basham presents her work as a warning about the potential consequences of the church embracing worldly wisdom over scriptural teachings.
