Using Joe Rigney’s Book to Add Context To Megan Basham’s Book

I just returned from vacation during which I had the opportunity to finish reading two books that are interrelated.

Readers will recall that we had posted here several interviews featuring journalist Megan Basham during which she discussed her new book, “Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda”.

The other book I wish to highlight is “Leadership and Emotional Sabotage” by Professor Joe Rigney who teaches at a Christian college in Idaho.

I can only offer superlatives for Basham’s book. It is packed with information, and I won’t attempt to recount all the details. But the book is organized around eight chapters, each of which deals with a different subject matter– climate change; illegal immigration; leftist organizations buying off evangelical media and institutions; the pro-life cause; Covid-19; Critical Race Theory; #MeToo (or sexual assault allegations in the church); and the LGBTQ issue.

The #MeToo chapter reported heavily on the manner in which the Southern Baptist Convention handled sexual assault allegations that had become highly publicized. While I was very skeptical about the Convention’s leaders’ approach to this matter, Basham’s chapter reveals that the truth is even worse than I could have ever imagined.

But each of the chapters present information that is simultaneously worrisome and shocking.

Ms. Basham brings a couple of strengths to this task. First, she exhibits a deep understanding of the Bible and theology. She is therefore able to comprehend and communicate what the Christian religion legitimately teaches, and what it does not teach. She applies this to each of the topics she covers.

Second, she understands substantively the issues raised in each of the subject areas she tackles– not only from a biblical standpoint, but also from a secular standpoint. She is therefore able to recognize falsehood when it is arises.

The book is loaded with footnotes– literally hundreds. She researched extensively and merely reported what she found elsewhere regarding certain individuals and institutions in the evangelical world.

But she took certain risks when she authored this book, got it published and marketed it. As a journalist, she is well aware that she is liable legally if she libels anyone. It is therefore critically important that she reports truthfully and accurately. Although she has received some pushback, I am unaware of any threats of litigation– at least, as of yet. (But any potential litigants would have to prove she published something that was simultaneously untrue and defamatory; and subject themselves to the discovery process.)

Among the individuals she covered are Russell Moore; Danny Akin; JD Greear; Francis Collins; Bart Barber; Tim Keller: Andy Stanley; David French; Rick Warren; Gavin Ortlund; Karen Swallow Prior; Ed Stetzer; and others.

She also highlighted various evangelical institutions including but not limited to Campus Crusade; Christianity Today; the Gospel Coalition; the Presbyterian Church in America; the Southern Baptist Convention; its Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; its North American Mission Board; its Southeastern and Southern Baptist Theological Seminaries; Trinity Forum; Wheaton College and its Billy Graham Center.

The question arises as to how these individuals and institutions could have capitulated so severely, and so unjustifiably, in a manner that betrays biblical truth. Undoubtedly, some of them were oriented to the social and political left from the outset.

But what about the others? Basham postulates that some of them were seeking worldly acclaim or legitimization; or were trying to “boost their numbers”. She implies that some have effectively been bribed.

But this does not explain the whole picture. That is where Joe Rigney’s framework becomes helpful.

Rigney explains that a characteristic feature of our world is that nearly all of the historic centers of authority in our society have been broken. He posits that this unleashes various passions; and causes pressures that come to bear upon leaders– sometimes from unexpected directions.

And then these leaders abdicate responsibility. They fail to seek Godly counsel and to pursue Godly wisdom. They fail to exhibit scriptural sober-mindedness and spiritual stability. They covet worldly approval and empathize beyond biblical reason. They become excessively concerned with how they might appear to others. And they fail to take action in an appropriate way.

These leaders are subject to becoming sabotaged; and sometimes they sabotage themselves.

Rigney provides an approach for leaders to follow to avoid falling into these traps. Had the individuals and organizations in Megan Basham’s book adopted this approach, they likely would not have fallen so severely. His approach is very insightful, and entirely centered on scripture.

But in the meantime, we face a troubling situation. Some very important corners of the evangelical world are in a mess; and need purposeful prayer and sound leadership.