Tim Challies is a web designer and blogger who is well known in a branch of Christianity called Reformed. He calls himself a Reformed Baptityrean.

He has done hundreds of book reviews, and has live blogged several reform conferences.

He decided to write a book, bouncing off ideas from his readers at his blog.
He wrote a proposal to Crossway (religious publisher/distributor) and it was accepted. 
It was also picked up by Westminister Bookstore and is on Amazon.

About 170 thousand books are written every year. 
Promoting is difficult, and while this is written for a niche market, promoting has to be done. The obligatory reform author endorsements were put out for the launch.

Challies has decided to promote his book by doing a blog-tour, which means going to 10 friends blogs, participating in a post and interacting with readers.

Justin Taylor, who manages reform things like websites, books, and conferences mentioned Tim’s book: The Discipline of Discernment, at his blog Between Two Worlds. 

All hell broke lose under Taylor’s post. 
Comments went all over the map.
Tim was attacked for being a blogger, for not being a minister, for the endorsements on the book, about his credentials, his age…it’s mean stuff.
Then a guy named Steve Camp showed up (apparently he’s a CCM musician) and joined in.  He blogs too. He got ripped apart by commenters.
No one had actually read the book.
Tim Challie’s minister showed up in Between Two World’s comment section to vouch for him.

Steve Camp wrote:
“The one missing name and voice in regards to Tim’s book among many fine names are his pastors and church…”

I fully endorse Tim’s book. More than that, I fully endorse Tim’s life. He is a faithful, encouraging, serving, accountable, “normal,” giving member of our church.

Paul Martin
Pastor
Grace Fellowship Church, Toronto

P.S. I also really read the book… and really liked it! Just like the other (published) endorsers read it and liked it… whose names help establish a first-time author a lot more than mine does!

Martin also blogs.
Sniping escalated.
Steve Camp came back to Between Two Worlds, issued an apology and got slammed for that. 

To All
I want to publicly ask forgiveness for my initial comment concerning Tim and his book. My words could have been seasoned with more grace and chosen more carefully.

The main question here raised is worth discussing from a biblical worldview and should be considered with sobriety of heart and mind: What qualifies one to speak for God and His Word?

I pray that many here dedicated to biblical ministry will continue to provide helpful and biblical responses to this question as I hope to do in the coming days as well.

To those who sought to use excessive vitriol against me for sport, I hold no ought against you. You wouldn’t have been provoked to do so if my initial words were thought through more carefully.

HIs unworthy servant in His unfailing love,

Steve
2 Cor. 4:5-7

Camp apparently apologized at Challies site, but his apology was deleted. 

I still haven’t noticed anyone in the Between Two Worlds comment thread other than the Toronto minister, who had actually read the book.
Challies put a post up at his blog about the comment thread and the endorsements.  His comments started off well. You know the rest.

If negative publicity is good for a first time author, Challies is off to a flying start.