Elling Hove on the Efficacy of the Word - Why Do Lutheran Leaders Teach Exactly the Opposite?

"In the Word of God there is not only a speaking about God, but in and through His Word God Himself speaks to us, deals with us, acts upon us. Therefore the Word of God is also an efficacious means of grace through which God regenerates, converts, and sanctifies man. This efficacy the Word of God possesses always; it is always united with the Word, never separated from it. The effect which God intends through the Word is indeed not always attained, but this is owing to no lack of efficacy in the Word, but solely to the resistance of man; for man has the power to resist God and to prevent His Word from accomplishing the effect which He intends."

E. Hove, Christian Doctrine, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1930, p. 27.

http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2008/08/efficacy-catechism-from-thy-strong-word.html?m=1

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Hove, Elling (25 March 1863–17 December 1927), Lutheran pastor and theologian, was born near Northwood, Iowa, the son of Ole Hove and Kari Olson, farmers. At the age of fifteen, he entered Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, in 1877, graduating with a B.A. in 1884. He then attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, from which he received his certificate in theology in 1887. Ordained into the Norwegian Synod that same year, he served a congregation in Portland, Oregon, from 1887 to 1889, and then served in Astoria, Oregon, from 1890 to 1891. His next call was to one of the most important congregations in the synod, First Lutheran, in Decorah, Iowa, which he served from 1891 to 1894. During his time in Decorah he also taught courses in religion at Luther College and served as the college pastor. In 1893 Hove married Ottine Didrikke Wulfsberg; they had two sons. In 1894 he accepted a call to a congregation in Mankato, Minnesota, where he served until 1901....

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(March 25, 1863–December 17, 1927). B. Northwood, Iowa; educ. Luther Coll., Decorah, Iowa, and Conc. Sem., St. Louis, Missouri; Norw. Luth. pastor Portland, Oregon, Astoria, Oregon, Decotab, Iowa., Mankato, Minnesota; prof. Luther Sem., Saint Paul, Minnesota (later dissolved and reest. as Luther Theol. Sem.) 1901. Works include Christian Doctrine (pub.posthumously as completed by his son, Olaf Hjalmar Hove, b. November 30, 1906).