I was directed to the website of the Motley Magpie. I read a fairly good summary of Receptionism in the ELS and WELS. The term Receptionism refers to the odd notion of the elements of Holy Communion being mere bread and wine until they are received by the communicant. That was taught and believed in the Synodical Conference and is still held (dishonestly) by the Little Sect on the Prairie and its big, Reformed Universalistic brother, the Wisconsin Synod.
Pastor John Berg is the editor of the Motley Magpie. District Pope Jahnke defenestrated him, but Berg's congregation left with him. His brother, another WELS pastor, was also pushed out of WELS. The Berg brothers are the sons of Norm Berg, former Michigan District Pope and former head of the synodical mission board. Norm Berg was trained at Fuller Seminary, as he confessed in a threatening letter to me, but his sons de-converted.
Norm Berg constantly promoted the Church Growth Movement, which is the engine running The Love Shack known as WELS headquarters. Not everyone feels the love. Anyone opposed to Church Growth experiences the Left Foot of Fellowship, even if they are well-connected sons of synodical officials.
I have a collection of Eighth Commandment letters from various WELS nabobs: Norm Berg, Paul Kelm, Lawrence Otto Olson, District Pope Nitz, etc. What do they have in common? Oh yes - all thoroughly brainwashed at Fuller Seminary.
Back to the main point - the efficacy of the Word. Berg's essay about Receptionism runs through the normal Book of Concord citations, all valid. The entire debate can be shortened to the foundational doctrine uniting all of the Scriptures - the efficacy of the Word.
The efficacy of the Word has become so strange and new to Lutherans that an older Lutheran layman just phoned me to say he was reading Thy Strong Word over again. He was fascinated by the first chapter. He also donated a copy to his brother, another active Lutheran layman. A WELS layman ordered the book as well. The entire book is linked on the main page of Ichabod, under links.
If God's Word accomplishes His will at all times, then there is nothing to debate about Holy Communion. The Words of Institution are Scripture. Christ is present, in both natures, because the Word has consecrated them.
To say that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ when they touch the hands of the communicants is hardly worth debating.
Citing the Book of Concord is not a good use of scholarship when the vast majority of clergy and laity are so ignorant of the Biblical, Christian doctrine of the Word. No one was clearer about this than Luther, the greatest of all Biblical expositors. The distinguishing mark of all the favorite Lutheran theologians people respect is that reliance on the Word.
WELS and the Little Sect on the Prairie cling to Receptionism because they utterly reject the efficacy of the Word. Rev. Mouse: "That's absurd! You are a bad person for saying that." Am I? WELS excommunicated a fine pastor for emphasizing the efficacy of the Word alone. First they ran Norm Festerling out of his mission congregation. Then they banned him from communion. He was one of three WELS pastors in Toledo pushed out the ministry. But if a pastor is having an affair with his music director at church, hey, who cares?
WELS and the Little Sect are confused about the ministry for two reasons. One is that Fuller Seminary and Willow Creek do all their thinking for them. Another is their rejection of the efficacy of the Word. If they studied the Lutheran doctrine of the Word, a host of problems would be solved. Look for an emphasis on everything except the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. Yes, the words might be used, but the main thrust will be threatening and lashing with the Law.
