I think Megan Basham overreaches her csse, but I also don't think she's wrong about many (not all) SBC churches (and by extension similar conservative evangelical churches in general). I think William Dembski, the famous or infamous intelligent design advocate with two PhDs (e.g. specified complexity), has a fair and intelligent take on Basham's book over on his Substack. I don't entiely agree with Dembski but his post on Basham is worth reading.
At least five independent reviewers have verified. First, Samuel James documents a list of factual errors that becomes tedious by its length. He asks, “Should we conclude that the errors, mischaracterizations, and inconsistencies in Shepherds for Sale are intentional lies in order to sway readers and enrich the author?” He wants to be more charitable. Second, Jonathan David, in “In Defense of Gavin Ortlund,” examined Basham’s descriptions of what Ortlund wrote and concluded she “egregiously misrepresent[s]” him. Then, Chris Date, of “Theopologetics,” examined Basham’s claims, in a 93 minute video “Gavin Ortlund Not For Sale: An Appeal to Megan Basham,” and concluded “Megan blatantly and very badly misrepresents what Ortlund says” (1:22.15). Fourth, Warren Cole Smith of Ministry Watch, in “Which Shepherds Are For Sale?” (The Dispatch), documented numerous cases of Basham’s journalistic malpractice in the book and noted, “If we can’t trust her with the basic facts, why should we trust her with the interpretation of these facts?” He concluded that her book was “propaganda.” Finally, peace-making Christian apologist Neil Shenvi, after comparing - with exact quotes and screen-shots -- Basham’s claims of what people wrote with what they really wrote, came to the verdict, "she is an unreliable interpreter." Unlike Basham, Shenvi had the receipts.
You need to have janet mefferd on your channel and ask her about the book, because many of the things in the book she was actually writing about in real time. She is also a real journalist.
I am an SBC church member for 30 years. I wanted to like this book. But there are 2 aspects that bother me. 1. The title is too inflammatory to then choose to include so many shepherds who are not for sale. The fine print in the intro don't overcome this. 2. Chris Dale clearly agowed that she twisted the quoted phrases from Gavin Ortland to apply to people he did not apply them to. Basham has had multiple opportunities to repent of her clear and undeniable sin. Yet she chooses not to. Her pride and personal animosity towards Gavin seem to be a driving force in this.
I find it ironic that she works for the daily wire then defames some godly men and when people confront her she asks them to read (ie buy) the book. Talk about selling out. I wasn't sure of this lady before she slandered Gavin Ortlund, now I'm definitely not a fan. I would probably agree with some of her conclusions and I definitely disagree with Ortlund on climate change but we have enough voices on the extreme fringe right now and the church is losing the next generation because of it. How about a book called "Loving your enemies. How to stay true to Christ and reach the lost." That's a book worth writing and reading.
She is not extreme fringe right and furthermore unless you are willing to counteract the progressive indoctrination of young people in the church they will continue to flow out of it because progressivism is a competitor to Christianity and pretending otherwise is folly. Young people are not being lost because of right-wing people in the church; they are being lost because leftism is what it has always been, profoundly anti-Christian.
She is on the right track. Wait until you see what the church is up to...
I think Megan Basham overreaches her csse, but I also don't think she's wrong about many (not all) SBC churches (and by extension similar conservative evangelical churches in general). I think William Dembski, the famous or infamous intelligent design advocate with two PhDs (e.g. specified complexity), has a fair and intelligent take on Basham's book over on his Substack. I don't entiely agree with Dembski but his post on Basham is worth reading.
At least five independent reviewers have verified. First, Samuel James documents a list of factual errors that becomes tedious by its length. He asks, “Should we conclude that the errors, mischaracterizations, and inconsistencies in Shepherds for Sale are intentional lies in order to sway readers and enrich the author?” He wants to be more charitable. Second, Jonathan David, in “In Defense of Gavin Ortlund,” examined Basham’s descriptions of what Ortlund wrote and concluded she “egregiously misrepresent[s]” him. Then, Chris Date, of “Theopologetics,” examined Basham’s claims, in a 93 minute video “Gavin Ortlund Not For Sale: An Appeal to Megan Basham,” and concluded “Megan blatantly and very badly misrepresents what Ortlund says” (1:22.15). Fourth, Warren Cole Smith of Ministry Watch, in “Which Shepherds Are For Sale?” (The Dispatch), documented numerous cases of Basham’s journalistic malpractice in the book and noted, “If we can’t trust her with the basic facts, why should we trust her with the interpretation of these facts?” He concluded that her book was “propaganda.” Finally, peace-making Christian apologist Neil Shenvi, after comparing - with exact quotes and screen-shots -- Basham’s claims of what people wrote with what they really wrote, came to the verdict, "she is an unreliable interpreter." Unlike Basham, Shenvi had the receipts.
You need to have janet mefferd on your channel and ask her about the book, because many of the things in the book she was actually writing about in real time. She is also a real journalist.
I am an SBC church member for 30 years. I wanted to like this book. But there are 2 aspects that bother me.
1. The title is too inflammatory to then choose to include so many shepherds who are not for sale. The fine print in the intro don't overcome this.
2. Chris Dale clearly agowed that she twisted the quoted phrases from Gavin Ortland to apply to people he did not apply them to. Basham has had multiple opportunities to repent of her clear and undeniable sin. Yet she chooses not to. Her pride and personal animosity towards Gavin seem to be a driving force in this.
Chris Date, of “Theopologetics,” examined Basham’s claims and concluded “Megan blatantly and very badly misrepresents what Ortlund says” (1:22.15).
I wonder how much money she has made so far? Isn’t she for sale?
🎯
She is directly allied with forces who endorse the death penalty for gay people. Don't take my word. Look this up and follow the receipts.
I find it ironic that she works for the daily wire then defames some godly men and when people confront her she asks them to read (ie buy) the book. Talk about selling out.
I wasn't sure of this lady before she slandered Gavin Ortlund, now I'm definitely not a fan. I would probably agree with some of her conclusions and I definitely disagree with Ortlund on climate change but we have enough voices on the extreme fringe right now and the church is losing the next generation because of it.
How about a book called "Loving your enemies. How to stay true to Christ and reach the lost." That's a book worth writing and reading.
She is not extreme fringe right and furthermore unless you are willing to counteract the progressive indoctrination of young people in the church they will continue to flow out of it because progressivism is a competitor to Christianity and pretending otherwise is folly. Young people are not being lost because of right-wing people in the church; they are being lost because leftism is what it has always been, profoundly anti-Christian.