It’s been about a month since the release of Megan Basham’s Shepherds For Sale. The book is a certified bestseller, but more importantly, it has generated a load of controversy that Christian media would be and has been derelict to cover.
So let’s do a quick recap of the controversies so far. Popular YouTuber, Gavin Ortlund loudly complained about being used as an example, in Chapter 1 of SFS, of the exact type of messaging liberals wanted to use to subvert the politics of the younger generations of believers.
Then, JD Greear offers a response to Basham‘s criticisms, as does his lap dog, Neil Shenvi.
But the controversy has not been all divisive. There was a book that was endorsed by both John MacArthur and Mark Driscoll! There are tons of stories worth covering as a result of this book, which I would place as a top 5 story in Evangelicalism this year. So why has the media not jumped all over this?
The Gospel Coalition loves doing book reviews. Yet Shepherds For Sale is not feeling this love. I am a slow reader who did not receive an advance copy and still outpaced the online behemoth, The Gospel Coalition. In their case, Tim Keller is heavily targeted in this book for his support for Francis Collins and Side B Theology.
Christianity Today, likewise has not covered the story at all. Its editor-in-chief, Russell Moore is one of the most frequent targets. Church Leaders, the liberal outlet of Ed Stetzer, also has remained silent. Stetzer is also called out for his support of Francis Collins.
Most surprisingly, Christian Post has refused to cover any of the angles of Shepherds For Sale. Whereas The Gospel Coalition and Christianity Today have conflicts of interest, but should nonetheless offer a defense or rebuttal, Christian Post is hardly, if at all mentioned. Nor are people like Richard Land, however corrupt he is, targeted in the book. I can imagine that a subversive agent like Land would not want to give any coverage of Basham’s work.
Still, the Gavin Ortlund and JD Greear controversies were the type of stories Christian Post would cover, albeit a day or two slow.
That’s not to say that liberal outlets like Religion News Service (not Christian) or The Roys Report have not covered it. They have… poorly. But its a fascinating dereliction that such larger outlets have ignored these stories. And with a few of these examples, it shows that not only are shepherd for sale but also Christian media.
