Podcast Summary:

I Don't Have Enough FAITH to Be an ATHEIST
Host: Dr. Frank Turek
Guest: Megan Basham
Episode: Why Are Christian Institutions Trading Truth for a Leftist Agenda?
Date: December 16, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Frank Turek speaks with investigative journalist and author Megan Basham about the troubling trend of Christian institutions—especially humanitarian organizations and universities—prioritizing secular or progressive agendas over biblical truth. Drawing from Basham’s research and recent reporting, they discuss real-life examples, notably involving refugee resettlement and higher education, examining how pressures from culture, money, and power have led to compromise within Christian organizations.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Pressure to Conform—Individuals and Institutions

• Cultural Pressure: Christians feel daily pressure to conform to secular culture, often leading to compromise in both individuals and institutions (00:03).
  • "We're all tempted to say, hey, I don't need to be as strident as I normally am..." – Dr. Frank Turek [00:03]
• Institutions’ Responsibility: Institutions are often trusted by donors and families but may be susceptible to ideological drift.

2. Personal Update from Megan Basham

• Megan shares details of her battle with stage 3 colon cancer, being declared cancer-free but requesting prayers against recurrence. She also mentions her ongoing projects at Daily Wire, notably the live-action adaptation of the Pendragon Cycle (02:07–05:11).

3. World Relief and Compromise in Mission (Refugee Resettlement)

Background:

• Origins and Funding: World Relief began as a Christian humanitarian org (est. 1944) but has since become predominantly federally funded—receiving ~$330 million between 2021-2025 [05:42–08:10].
• Legal Constraints: Once it became a recipient of federal funding, the organization is legally prohibited from evangelizing refugees: "because they take that federal money, they aren't allowed to tell these immigrants...about Jesus." – Megan Basham [07:58]

Current Concerns:

• Reaction to Terrorist Vetting: After the D.C. shooting by an Afghan refugee likely settled by World Relief, the organization condemned renewed vetting efforts as a “moral and ethical betrayal.” [10:18–13:21]
• World Relief leadership argued that re-vetting would “re-traumatize” refugees and that current screenings were sufficient.
• Quote: "World Relief President...called the additional vetting a moral and ethical betrayal of due process." – Megan Basham [11:33]
• Contradiction and Statistical Reality: Government reports indicate thousands of Afghan evacuee records lacked proper data; claims of rigorous vetting are not based in reality [16:09].

4. Biblical and Ethical Perspective on Immigration

• Dr. Turek highlights the biblical distinction between legal and illegal immigrants and the responsibility of governments to protect their citizens (17:46–19:51).
  • Notable quote: "The Bible distinguishes between legal and illegal immigrants...Nowhere does the Bible say that the illegal immigrant...has a right to stay..." – Dr. Frank Turek [17:46]
• Basham notes that well-funded religious NGOs are muddying biblical guidance on these issues by distributing “progressive” Bible studies [19:51].

5. Money, Power, and Mission Drift

• Discussion on the temptation of institutions to alter beliefs or policies under the influences of federal money or donor demands (20:35–21:19).
  • "If they're getting millions of dollars of taxpayer money...it may cause them to change their theology in order to keep that money flowing." – Dr. Frank Turek [20:35]
• Megan reports World Relief received $56M in the year the D.C. shooter was resettled [21:19].

6. The Case of Biola University—Compromise in Christian Higher Ed

Background:

• Megan’s reporting (and prior work by Elisa Childers and Krista Bontrager) revealed:
  • Creation of a DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) department
  • Hosting critical race theory lecturers
  • Inclusion of potentially LGBTQ-affirming leadership in the counseling dept (declaring themselves “allies” and opposing biblical counseling for same-sex attraction) [22:29–29:33]
  • Chapel talks espousing racially divisive rhetoric (e.g., "all [antebellum] white people wanted to own slaves") [27:42]

Faculty & Student Experience:

• Faithful faculty remain, but students are urged to “vet programs and professors” carefully—same caution as attending a secular university [30:44].
  • Quote: “…you can't assume anymore that Biola is going to…reinforce the…worldview that you've taught your kids.” – Biola faculty member, via Megan Basham [30:44]
• Pushback from Biola leadership focuses on tone and claims of “gossip” rather than substance.

The Danger of Internal Compromise:

• Dr. Turek and Megan agree Christian institutions that deviate from orthodoxy pose a greater risk to faith formation than openly secular ones [33:55].
  • “If a student knows…they have an atheist professor…they're going to budget for that. When they're at a Christian school, they're not.” – Megan Basham [33:55]
• Everett Piper: “…until the Christian Academy repents, you’re better off sending your kids to a school run by pagans…” [33:08]

7. Why the Drift?—Money, Donors, and Board Influence

• Boards often dominated by wealthy donors or corporate figures influenced by secular culture, leading to progressive drift without clear realization [36:51–39:17].
• External funding, including from secular, left-leaning organizations, can steer departments (with Baylor University’s School of Social Work as a case study) [39:17–40:42].
  • Quote: "If you get someone who's wealthy and progressive, that's a really easy way just to come in and start to steer the organization..." – Megan Basham [36:56]

8. Christian Clubs and Censorship—TPUSA on Campus

• Multiple Christian universities (e.g., Biola, Asbury, Point Loma Nazarene, Bob Jones) have denied Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapters on vague or flimsy pretexts—even while welcoming progressive groups [43:33–46:33].

  • Double standards regarding “political” clubs, often permitting left-leaning ones but not conservative/Christian affiliations.
  • Biola's objection included TPUSA's “professor watch list” project, which aimed to publicize anti-Christian or anti-conservative faculty bias [43:33].
  • “Why would a Christian school object to a conservative organization…when hundreds…of secular schools…welcome TPUSA?” – Megan Basham [45:07]

• Update: Since recording, Biola University has approved a TPUSA chapter (57:57).

9. Broader Lessons: Accountability, Transparency, and Reformation

• Both Turek and Basham urge Christian donors/parents to vet institutions carefully, hold administrations accountable, and support reforms rather than accept slow compromise [54:53].
  • “We as the church … do actually have a responsibility to contend for the faith, in part through contending for our institutions and our organizations.” – Megan Basham [54:53]
• Basham: Reporting on compromise can aid institutions in restoring faithfulness.

10. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 00:03 | Turek | "We know there’s enormous pressure on people personally to conform with the culture." | | 07:58 | Basham | "Because they take that federal money…they aren’t allowed to tell these immigrants…about Jesus." | | 16:09 | Basham | "According to a…Homeland Security…report…in just one sample of nearly 90,000 evacuee records, they found 417 lacked first names. Over 11,000 had January 1 birthdays..." | | 17:46 | Turek | "The Bible distinguishes between legal and illegal immigrants…Nowhere does the Bible say that the illegal immigrant…has a right to stay..." | | 20:35 | Turek | "If they're getting millions of dollars of taxpayer money…it may cause them to change their theology..." | | 30:24 | Turek | "Paul says, flee sexual immorality. He doesn't say cuddle with it." | | 33:08 | Everett Piper (quoted) | "Until the Christian Academy repents, you're better off sending your kids to a school run by pagans..." | | 36:56 | Basham | "You need a sniffer on your board who is somebody to sort of sniff out wonky ideology or compromise..." | | 45:07 | Basham | "Why would a Christian school object to a conservative organization like TPUSA...?" | | 54:53 | Basham | "We…have a responsibility to contend for the faith, in part through contending for our institutions…" |

Important Segment Timestamps

• Opening and Topic Framing: 00:03–02:07
• Megan Basham’s Health and Media Projects: 02:07–05:11
• World Relief Under Scrutiny: 05:11–13:21
• Vet Refugee Crisis and Biblical Immigration Discussion: 13:21–19:51
• Institutional Temptations—Money and Power: 20:35–21:38
• Biola University Case Study: 22:29–39:17
• Funding Influence on Christian Colleges: 39:17–40:42
• Blocking TPUSA on Christian Campuses: 43:33–46:33
• Critical Response to Denial of Free Expression on Campuses: 47:09–48:31
• Update: Biola Approves TPUSA Club: 57:57

Concluding Thoughts

The episode is a strong call for vigilance among Christians regarding the drift of trusted institutions. Through reporting, scriptural analysis, and personal testimony, Basham and Turek demonstrate how left-leaning cultural and financial pressures can compromise organizations once dedicated to Christian truth. They urge reform, transparency, and accountability to ensure these institutions reinforce, rather than undermine, biblical values.

For More

• Megan Basham’s Book: Shepherds for Sale
• Megan on X (Twitter): @MegBasham
• Articles Referenced: Show notes (via crossexamined.org)
• Daily Wire: Find Megan’s ongoing reporting and projects

This summary delivers key episode highlights, retains the conversational and candid tone of Dr. Turek and Megan Basham, and cites quotes with proper attribution and timestamps for efficient reference.