Background

The book is published mid-2016 under the name “FR. MACARIUS (ATEF MESHREKY)”. Fr. Macarius is the name given to Dr. Meshreky on his tonsuring as a Stavrofor in the OCA on March 22^nd, 2016 at the Monastery of St John of San Francisco in Manton, CA, USA. A few days later he went back with his disciples to Phoenix, AZ, USA.

Book Summary

Book Structure

Critical Issues

1. A book about salvation, completely omitting the necessity of the Sacraments. Communion and Baptism never mentioned. That is a heretic "self-made" salvation.
2. Christ forms in us in Baptism. As in the prayer "May Christ take form in them that are to receive the Baptism of the new birth through me, I, who myself receive of Him." in the Coptic Orthodox Church, and "Form the image of Your Christ in him (her) who is about to be born again through my humility." in the Greek Orthodox Church. Confirmed Saint Gregory of Nazianzus: "He was approaching that regeneration by water and the Spirit, by which we confess to God the formation and completion of the Christlike man, and the transformation and reformation from the earthy to the Spirit." (Oration 18).
3. The ‘inner man’ entity: Early, in “INTRODUCTION” the effort is about defining the ‘inner man’, which is essential for the whole book and potentially other teachings and books as well. The ‘logic’ used ends up with an ‘inner man’ that’s ‘inner’ to the body, contoured and membered like it (if healthy grown), but not in the body as it separates from it at death. Then it is seeded ‘in our spirit’, but not in the spirit. Then it is ‘Christ in me’, but how in me? In my spirit or my body? A 3^rd independent entity that’s not in my spirit, not in my body, but seeded in my spirit, with the contour, shape, and parallel members of my body? But that ‘Christ in me’ can be deformed and missing members? Seems like an elaborate attempt to assert that spiritual characteristics are parallel replicas of physical ones.

Chapter Analysis

“INTRODUCTION TO BOOK 1: THE INNER MAN AND THE FORMATION OF CHRIST”

Introducing as the first book in “the Inner Man series”. Goes over an overview of the two parts of the book. As typical of the author, uncovering “principles” “buried and hidden” from the Church; Introducing some “theological terms”; and discussing the “seasons of salvation” calendar. All these concepts and method are repeated in other publications and lectures.

Then “the inner man is exactly like the outer man; having parallel members: eyes, ears, hands, legs, and so on.”; “not a spirit”; “having the same contour as the outer one.”[P13-14]

That “inner man” “begins in the form of a seed, in our spirit.”! If it experience growth issues, when departing, “can be seen as a face without eyes, a face and neck without hands, a face and neck and hands without an abdomen, or missing any of the parts or members.” [P14]

On the other hand,…. Can come out glorious.

“Therefore, the ‘inner man’ is ‘Christ in me’.”

“Part 1 · The Inner Man & the Process of the Formation of Christ”

“Part 2 · The Principles of the Formation of Christ”

“Part 3 · The Results of the Formation of Christ”

Conclusion

The book based on its timing has some of the common features recent of Dr. Meshreky’s teachings: Anatomical features of the “spiritual” body, similar to the members of the body in a previous book “Prayers and Prophesying”; focus on “growing” and “protecting” those members; and deficiencies of the Church.

Contradictions to the Bible and the Church

1. Anatomical and member features of the “inner man”: It is somewhat palatable to use tangible adjectives to describe heavenly and spiritual “things”, as repeatedly used in the New Testament by Jesus, St. Paul, in Revelation, because non-materialistic things that “Eye has not seen” 1 Corinthians 2:9 where there are “inexpressible words” 2 Corinthians 12:4. So “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 out of necessity since we cannot comprehend nor express. Even some descriptions of visions and revelation, describe “body” features not fully comprehensible by human and body anatomical measures, but barely imaginable. But we do not believe that the “inner man” is “not spirit”, and has same “outer shape” and members. At least nobody knowledgeable of that gave us a “picture” and “anatomy” of it, which we’ll never comprehend, nor understand anyway!
   1. In addition to the physical body and spirit, we have a 3^rd “thing”? What’s the reference and significance of that “inner man” that’s not spirit, has same contour and members of the physical, and can be seen while departing to heaven? Why such contour with eyes, nose, ligaments, etc depart to heaven and how it functions there?
   2. Paul speaks of resurrected bodies, compared to material bodies as a plant compares to the seed, and comes at resurrection. (read 1 Corinthians 15). So where that “Inner man” lifecycle fits?
   3. References to members of the spiritual body are descriptive not parallel. For instance while the physical eye is an external light receiver, the spiritual one is “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23). So when it is bad, the spiritual body is full of darkness, not deformed or ‘without eyes’.

Some References and Links