What happens when political agendas, financial interests and cultural pressure begin influencing the mission of the church? On this edition of Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk, host Roger Marsh welcomes journalist and author Megan Basham, reporter for The Daily Wire and author of Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda. In Part 1 of their conversation, Basham explains the unexpected path that led her from covering Hollywood and popular culture to investigating the political, financial and ideological forces she believes are shaping evangelical churches and Christian organizations. She recalls beginning to notice ideas involving critical race theory, DEI and other cultural movements entering Christian workplaces, schools and churches, prompting her to investigate where those influences were coming from. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} Basham also discusses her reporting on former National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins and her concerns about the way influential Christian leaders and organizations responded to government policy during the COVID era. She explains how those investigations ultimately led to the reporting that became Shepherds for Sale. The conversation becomes deeply personal as Megan recounts her own return to Christianity after drifting away from the faith during college. She describes a life marked by partying, alcohol and drug abuse before eventually returning to Christ, and explains why that experience made her especially protective of the gospel and concerned when political or social causes are described as “gospel issues.” :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} For Basham, the central concern is not whether Christians should engage difficult cultural and political questions, but whether those issues begin replacing or obscuring the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. She and Roger also examine one of the major themes of Shepherds for Sale: the financial and organizational relationships that Basham says have allowed secular political groups to influence evangelical institutions. She describes her investigation of organizations such as the Evangelical Immigration Table and explains the distinction between leaders who knowingly accept outside funding and pastors or ministry leaders who may become involved without understanding how their names or endorsements will later be used. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3} It is a conversation about truth, discernment, accountability, journalism, politics and the responsibility of Christians to protect the clarity of the gospel in a rapidly changing culture. Learn more about Megan Basham, Shepherds for Sale, and this conversation through the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute at DrJamesDobson.org. Hear more trusted Christian programming on AM 670 KLTT at 670KLTT.com.
