I enjoy reading Norm Teigen's blog. Many blogs read like seminars for seniors in seminary, tossing around terms, clouds without rain.
Lately I figured out the essence of being a serious Lutheran blogger:
1. Little or no parish experience.
2. No formal training in theology, beyond seminary.
3. No publications.
4. Staking out major stands on trivia.
5. Extraordinary touchiness.
Those who can claim all five attributes are Lutheran bloggers of extreme gravitas.
Norm Teigen correctly pointed out a number of things. I am happy to see his father's book on the Real Presence getting a lot of attention. I recall when speaking to any Teigen was considered a possible break in fellowship in the ELS. Of course that came from their inordinate fear of WELS and that sect's love of Reformed doctrine.
I recall Slide saying in church history class at Mequon that the ELS was always divided on the church and ministry issue. No one worried about it in 1987 or before. Suddenly it became a major issue. Orvick and Schmeling started the conflict on their own by pushing the Wisconsin sect's idiosyncratic views. Orvick tended to blow this way and that, to keep everyone happy. But Pope John the Malefactor took over as a walk-the-plank guy, in the words of John Shep.
The ELS did not want the book by B. W. Teigen (Norm's father) published. I am going to review it fairly soon. The book is getting a lot of attention again. I believe Liberalism: Its Cause and Cure was published only by accident (NPH).
I wrote Liberalism as a series of artices for Christian News. Otten suggested I send it to NPH, so I did. NPH accepted it for their new doctrinal series, which was doing well since no WELS pastors were writing for it. I did not have a title for a period of time, as I recall. I did not have a concluding chapter. One editor asked me for the Cure chapter. I gave a conference paper on the Means of Grace. It was pretty mild, but Oelhaven and Adrian (District Mission Board chairs) went nuts over my criticism of the Church Growth Movement. Roger Kovaciny, who worked with Jay Webber in the Ukraine, went postal. He shouted and threw my paper across the pews.
I thought, "Now I know what the Cure chapter will be."
Then there was a tremendous delay in getting the proofs to me so the book could be finished. I imagine there was a big fight to keep the book from coming out. Church Growth icons are planted all over WELS to silence Lutheran doctrine. The same person was involved in two other efforts at spiking, both successful. In one case, the publisher (not Otten) said he would lose his business if he published one of my books. He said, "I have to support my family, so I have to give in to WELS."
Liberalism sold very well and still sells.
Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant was scheduled for publication at NPH. They backed out of their promise because I needed to "change my attitude." I guess I had to confess Reformed doctrine, liike Valleskey, Bivens, and Wayne Mueller. Concordia Publishing House considered the book but told me, "No one writing for Otten will get published." They published and promoted Werning, who wrote for Otten but got very Church Growthy. Conclusion: practice safe sects and the synods will beam with pleasure.
I published CLP on my own and NPH repented by promoting the book. That was liberation day, because I learned how to get into print faster, independent of the Church Growth synodical minders.
Lulu.com has been other step, along with blogging.
This is all background to show what happens when the synods are intent on promoting their false doctrine. The false teachers get into position through craft and guile, work with each other, and silence anyone who identifies their creed. Clergy are so timid that they will shun anyone understood to be unsafe for their careers.
