I believe you are painting a straw man here Rich. In fact the ordinances require examination before God and also are a means of grace to the church in this quest that you are trying to illuminate.
-----Added 1/6/2009 at 10:16:47 EST-----
Let me add some more thought here real quickly. The body of Christ is what is portrayed and examination is meant to help one recognize whether or not one is in Christ or not. They draw us back to Union with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. It is based upon the cup of the New Covenant in his blood.
-----Added 1/6/2009 at 10:21:56 EST-----
Just some scripture.
In fact the Lord's supper is to help distinguish between the reprobate and the brethren in my understanding.
-----Added 1/6/2009 at 10:16:47 EST-----
Let me add some more thought here real quickly. The body of Christ is what is portrayed and examination is meant to help one recognize whether or not one is in Christ or not. They draw us back to Union with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. It is based upon the cup of the New Covenant in his blood.
-----Added 1/6/2009 at 10:21:56 EST-----
Just some scripture.
(2Co 13:5) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
(1Co 11:18) For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
(1Co 11:19) For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
(1Co 11:20) When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
(1Co 11:21) For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
(1Co 11:22) What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
(1Co 11:23) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
(1Co 11:24) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
(1Co 11:25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
(1Co 11:26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
(1Co 11:27) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
(1Co 11:28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
(1Co 11:29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
(1Co 11:30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
(1Co 11:31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
(1Co 11:32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
(1Co 11:33) Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
(1Co 11:34) And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
In fact the Lord's supper is to help distinguish between the reprobate and the brethren in my understanding.