Pilgrim said: Of course, one's definition of "fellowship church" will determine what criteria is used even before any examination is done. On the contrary, the Bible knows no such distinction, i.e., "denomination" nor any basis to include or exclude a true believer from the Lord's Table due to one's denominational affiliation. It is the LORD CHRIST HIMSELF who invites, calls and requires His sheep to come to the Supper. And thus it is the church's responsibility to determine the individual's spiritual state in its examination regardless of where that individual attends worship.
There is one holy Catholic Church that exists without division. From this Church, Christ calls and invites believers to the holy Supper. See 1 Cor. 11:18-20.
In the case of a visitor in good standing of a fellowship church, the elders accept the doctrinal examination of fellowship church and inquire regarding the visitor's spiritual condition. However, if a visitor is not a member of any church, a much more extensive examination (and perhaps instruction) is required. If the visitor belongs to a church that teaches false doctrine, the elders may ask why the visitor has chosen to associate himself with a church that teaches error.
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Further, the text in question is in regard to the individual examining himself/herself before partaking of the Lord's Supper. The church's responsibility to guard/fence the Table is found elsewhere and is not Paul's consideration in this text and thus irrelevant to the TOPIC here being discussed.
I agree with you but John C asked, "What does judge the body rightly mean? Does the body refer to self or to the corporate body at the time? IOW, is it an examination of one's self or how one is interacting with those in the corporate body?" John C is here connecting examination with how one interacts with the corporate body. As the elders examine the visitor, the visitor examines the elders.
