Chris Elrod

Islamophobia Caused By U.S. Policies?

Thanks to the blog for our newspaper's religion editor I caught the following news item coming out of Texas:

(DALLAS, TX, 6/26/2007) - On Sunday, July 8, a prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group will kick off a nationwide discussion of "Islamophobia," or fear and hatred of Islam and Muslims, with a panel discussion in Dallas, Texas. It is the first in a series of similar public discussions scheduled around the nation by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations ( CAIR ).
The Dallas event, entitled "Do U.S. Policies Fuel Islamophobia?" and hosted by CAIR's Dallas/Fort Worth chapter (CAIR-DFW), will seek to explain the historical context of the issue and provide resources for gaining a better understanding of the negative impact anti-Muslim bigotry has on American society and on our nation's interests worldwide.

Panelists will also discuss the government's actions in the case against officials of the closed Texas-based Holy Land Foundation Muslim charity.

WHAT: Panel Discussion - "Do U.S. Policies Fuel Islamophobia?"
WHEN: Sunday, July 8, 2007, 1:30-4 p.m.
WHERE: Crowne Plaza Park Central, 7800 Alpha Road, Dallas, Texas

Hmmm...the conference's title is "Do U.S. Policies Fuel Islamophobia?" It could be that they do.

Then again, it could be the memory of seeing people jump to their deaths from the World Trade Center towers just before they collapsed? Or maybe it's the horror of reading stories about an Al Queda torture chamber in Iraq where U.S. troops discover a ten-year-old boy chained to the wall with scars and fresh wounds all over his body? It might possibly be the video of a U.S. reporter having his head sawed off as his captors are shouting praises to "Allah"? Or how about what I'm seeing on CNN right now...a car bomb driven into a Scottish airport with the intent of killing innocent people?

It could be that the policies of the United States do actually fuel Islamophobia. Then again...it could be the policies of Islamic extremists!

A Sixteen Candles' Shot

This photo reminds me of the scene in the movie Sixteen Candles where Anthony Michael Hall walks out of the toilet stall and shows a bathroom full of freshmen guys a pair of girl's underwear.  The entire room was "oooing and ahhhing" as if they just saw something life-changing.

I'm just getting a kick out of all of the hype a piece of technology is causing.  We Americans are just pretty shallow!!!

Chris Question Friday: Best Church Leadership Book

QUESTION: What is the best book you've ever read on church leadership or church planting? - Donnie in Gainesville, GA

ANSWER: Nehemiah!!!

It's Almost Here

A Mega Church Misunderstanding

Several weeks ago I received an email from the pastor of a mega church. I had only met him briefly at a conference, but have tons of respect for him. In his email he voiced concerns that my blog was leaning toward the negative when it came to talking about mega churches or mega church pastors. The email was very kind and thought out...not malicious at all. My first reaction was shock...shock that I was on this guy's radar and shock that he felt like I had a problem with mega churches. Nothing could be further from the truth. However, I know that perception is reality and if this guy thought there was negativity...then there were others that read my blog that probably sensed negativity also. For the past two weeks, I have been praying about this issue and reading back over my blog to discover how this "mega church misunderstanding" occured.

Let me state for the record....I have no problem with mega churches and mega church pastors. During my comedy days and through my work with Prison Fellowship I have had the privilege of meeting a bunch of mega church pastors over the years. The majority were kind, humble and just trying their best to keep up with what God was doing through their church. I always enjoyed the stories about the "early days" of their churches and was inspired by their faithfulness to God over the years. It was through those "chance" meetings that my heart to plant a church began to take shape.

In carefully reviewing my blog postings for this year I can see where mega church pastors would be offended by some of the stuff I write. Please understand...that is not my intention at all. I do not desire to tear down one church style in favor of another. My goal is simply to put forth ideas of what churches need to be in order to reach the disconnected of tomorrow...the young 20-somethings. Many times those ideas fly in the face of what modern churches....mega churches...are doing today. It is not my desire to say that mega churches are wrong...they are not. I am just trying to convey a new way of doing things if churches want to remain relevant tomorrow.

Studies are beginning to show that the two main things that attract a young disconnected person to church is authenticity and community. Most of today's top churches are attractional only, multi site and video venue driven. There is nothing wrong with any of that....it is working well for the Kingdom of God. The only trouble is....many young 20-somethings...tomorrow's disconnected...are running like scalded dogs from that style of church. It is hard to convey authenticity from a video screen and diffcult to create community when there are 5,000 people in a room. However, to ignore the positive influence and innovation of mega churches would be pretty ignorant in taking our next steps to church planting creativity.

At this moment mega churches are our greatest source for knowledge because they are like an "experimental church lab". They are branching out...trying new things....spending money innovating...pushing the edge of the technological envelope....and being honest through blogs and books about their results. For new church planters or soon-to-be church planters watching today's mega churches is beter than reading any book or attending any seminar. What they are doing today may not necessarily work tomorrow....but it will be a catalyst...a starting point...for what will work in the future.

As a pastor and a fellow brother in the Lord, I do not feel any ill will toward mega church pastors or mega churches. I apologize if it has ever been assumed...or misundertood...that I do. We are all in this thing together and there is much we can learn from each other. It is only the foolish that limit themselves to one idea...one style...and one set of influencers. Reaching the disconnected for Christ is only going to get more difficult in the days to come! Multiple styles to reach multiple demographics by multiple churches is the only way we are going to see the Great Commission fulfilled in America.

For those of you that regularly read this blog, please understand...when it comes to a church's style or missiology...there is no right way or no wrong way...there is only the next way.

One Last Shot

Shane Claiborne's Simple Way Burns Down

Regular readers of this blog know that I have been moved by Shane Claiborne's book The Irresistible Revolution and his Simple Way community in Philadelphia. Reports are coming out of Philly tonight that a 7-alarm fire destroyed an abandoned warehouse along with eight homes and Simple Way's Community Center building. While no one was injured in the fire Simple Way lost much of its ministry resources and Shane lost everything he owns.

Right now Shane and his folks are still assessing the damage so specific needs will not be addressed for several days. Until then you can send any financial assistance to:

The Simple Way
PO Box 14751
Philadelphia, PA 19134

Crab Night

It's "crab night" at the Elrod household. The season finale of "The Deadliest Catch"is on, my favorite crew is doing good and I'm digging it. It's bittersweet that this season is over...but knowing that the new season of "Dirty Jobs" starts next Tuesday makes it a little easier to handle.

Patterson's Legacy & The SBC's Shame

Being a seminary president doesn't exempt people from being ignorant. It is heartless stupidity like this decision by Paige Paterson...which results in requests like this one...that causes me to be ashamed to call myself a Southern Baptist!!!

R.I.P. Comments Section

I love the art of conversation...the free exchange of ideas..the passion of sharing vision. However, over the past year I have begun to question whether the medium of blogs is the best place for just such interaction. I have always worked hard to make sure that my posts are clear and thought out. I never want there to be any confusion if I can help it. Yet there have been moments on this blog where some people just don't get it...they just cannot grasp the concept of what my purpose is. I'll also admit that my personality is one that has a hard time letting go of negative comments or misunderstandings about the things I write. Consquently, I spend a lot of time thinking about comments left on this blog...along with trying to clarifying things not clearly understood.

In reality, the idea to shut down the comments on my blog was decided almost a month ago. Those closest to me know that a very disturbed young man appeard out of the woodwork due to one of my blog postings and the national media attention it received. When I would not post his incredibly sick comments about women on this blog he became angry and made threats against my wife, my church and me. When he actually showed up in Lakeland things became all too real...and scary. Thank God he is in custody now and receiving the help he needs to get better.

Even after that incident I started to back down from my idea of dropping comments...then I blogged about my poll concerning the iPhone. I have never encountered such obsessed and hateful comments as I did concerning that post. It wasn't from church planters or leaders...they got the point...it was from Apple freaks and Steve Jobs groupies. They are some obsessed, mean...sometimes ignorant...people. I own a Macbook and am a huge fan of Apple prodcuts, however I can't even begin to imagine saying some of the things about a person I do not know...over a cell phone...as they did about me. For every comment I approved there were five more that were just obscene. To create such anger over a piece of technology that no one has actually used (outside of Apple employees) just left me speechless. The "geek squad" could not grasp the concept that I presenting what was perceived...not what is...or in the case of the iPhone...what could be. When it was suggested in the comments of another blog that...as a Christian...it was my "responsibility" to correct any misunderstandings about an Apple product,,,the whole comment thing just "jumped the shark" for me. I knew then that it was time to shut it down.

I appreciate the church planters that drop by here. I pray that my blog will encourage and inspire tomorrow's leaders and churches. However, it is time to say "rest in peace" comments...I knew you well...but do not grieve at your loss. :-)