This just in: Secular men's conference more open to Christian sexuality than most churches
“They were bound by the golden shackles of earthly honours and thus kept from honouring God.” —John Calvin
We cannot expect a more cordial welcome than disturbers of complacency have received in any other age. —Richard Weaver
Michael did the 21 Summit for a third time this year. We’ll include his report on his experience and takeaways below.
Background to 21 Summit #
The 21 Summit is three overlapping conferences:
One on men’s issues in general.
One for fathers specifically.
One for women.
These conferences are forums, with a diversity of topics, covered by many different men from varying worldviews. The uniting principle is a positive view of masculinity, and a rejection of a feminist view of sexuality. But beyond that, there are often strong disagreements over tactics, strategies, and objectives.
Some don’t think Michael should participate in these forums. Their opposition tends to be rooted in an association fallacy: that his involvement implies an endorsement of the other speakers’ beliefs, claims, and/or actions.
It is true that over the years, some of the speakers have said and done things that are wicked and worldly. They have also said or done things that, while not necessarily wrong in themselves, were presented in a crass or vulgar way.
That’s the nature of a secular forum on these topics. These men do not know Christ, or his law. The conversation can be almost as rough as many workplaces.
Almost.
It still hasn’t been as rough as the talk we have heard on job sites. Michael worked as a union electrician. Bnonn worked in IT. Both workplaces were intense with locker-room talk, profanity, and blasphemy.
Things haven’t improved either. These days, Michael hears the F-word over and over again even at professional trade shows.
It makes us wonder if some of our critics reside in a hermetically-sealed bubble.
Anyways, Anthony Johnson, who runs the summit, continues to give Michael more freedom to speak the unfiltered truth than the majority of evangelical churches do.
You may hate it, but it’s a fact.
People keep asking why an avowed atheist like Anthony would invite him back year after year. It’s actually simple. It’s because Anthony respects bold speakers who are for positive masculinity, and against feminism and all its derivations. That’s it.
Michael’s Report on the 21 Summit 2022 #
This year I…
spoke three times
emceed the Patriarch convention
hosted a workshop on biblical worship with Brian Sauvé
sat on three different panels
As always, I did it free of charge. It’s totally worth it for me. Here are my main takeaways from 2022:
There weren’t any pick-up artists this year. There was a former PUA who now calls himself a relationship coach. He showed me a picture of his wife and daughter. A sweet guy. His presentation at the Patriarch convention focused heavily on family, and the importance of feminine beauty.
I personally didn’t hear a single speaker recommend any illicit sexuality. Quite the opposite. I heard at least 8–9 speakers advocate for sex in marriage alone. All the speakers I heard were against pornography. One agnostic warned it will destroy your soul.
There was a very strong Christian presence this year. I can think of about seven speakers who repeatedly made appeals to Scripture. And there were even more generic appeals on the basis of “God” and/or “religion.” It has been very interesting to watch the evolution of the 21 Summit. It’s still very much a non-Christian event—yet it is the only high-profile event tackling paternity fraud, family law injustices, life after divorce, etc from a decidedly non-feminist and pro-masculine perspective.
I don’t regret my involvement. I’ll probably be back next year.
Michael’s notes from his 21 Summit talk, “Sex is Fire” #
Summary: Immoral sex a destructive power. Sex, submitted to God’s design and command, is a unifying and productive good
My passage is 2 Samuel 13:1-33:
Now it was after this that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4 He said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Then Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.” 5 Jonadab then said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill; when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat, and let her prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat from her hand.’” 6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
7 Then David sent to the house for Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was lying down. And she took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9 She took the pan and dished them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Have everyone go out from me.” So everyone went out from him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon. 11 When she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” 12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing! 13 As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” 14 However, he would not listen to her; since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up, go away!” 16 But she said to him, “No, because this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!” Yet he would not listen to her. 17 Then he called his young man who attended him and said, “Now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her.” 18 Now she had on a long-sleeved garment; for in this manner the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her. 19 Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her long-sleeved garment which was on her; and she put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.
20 Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
21 Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry. 22 But Absalom did not speak to Amnon either good or bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.
23 Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24 Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, for we will be burdensome to you.” Although he urged him, he would not go, but blessed him. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But when Absalom urged him, he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “See now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then put him to death. Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.”
29 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose and each mounted his mule and fled. 30 Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose, tore his clothes and lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn. 32 Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, responded, “Do not let my lord suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take the report to heart, namely, ‘all the king’s sons are dead,’ for only Amnon is dead.”
I have three major points and one big takeaway.
Point 1: Sexual immorality destroys you (vv. 1–21)
Textual Example: Amnon’s “illness,” which incapacitated him for good work.
Cultural Examples:
Porn: erectile dysfunction. “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?” (Pr 6:27–28)
Fornication leads to a dead marriage bed. “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (Pr 9:17).
Aside: Jonadabs = evil tacticians. He “helps” Amnon satisfy his lust—but it didn’t satisfy. It filled him with hatred. Beware of Jonadabs.
Point 2: Sexual immorality destroys others (vv. 18–22)
Textual Example: Tamar’s desolation/rape. She is robbed of purity, marriage, children, and a household.
Cultural Examples:
The murder of children in abortion
The scarring of children in divorce
Point 3: Sexual immorality destroys society (vv. 23–33)
Textual Example: Absalom’s revenge leads to fratricide, and eventually even to kingdom-wide instability.
Cultural Examples:
Redefining marriage as merely about romantic love led to weaker households, destroying the glue that hold society together.
It also paved the way to sodomite marriage. Now we’ve got drag-queens reading in our libraries.
Big takeaway:
Sex is like fire. When it is contained, harnessed, and directed, it is a source of unity and productivity. When it is not, it burns everything down.
Closing exhortation:
Flee sexual immorality.
Repent of sin.
Believe the gospel.
Get married.
Have children.
Tell them to do as you did.
P.S. I couldn’t give this talk in most churches, but I can at a secular summit organized by an atheist.
Meekness is that unresisting, uncomplaining disposition of mind, which enables us to bear without irritation or resentment the faults and injuries of others. —Charles Hodge
Good men get fat sometimes. Turn it around #
Your priorities get out of whack and so does your waistline.
It happens.
But let’s not normalize obesity.
Call a spade a spade and then drop that flab.
Pursuing and maintaining your health and fitness to the best of your ability is a positive application of the 6th commandment. It is a moral good. Look at the Westminster Larger Catechism:
Q. 134. Which is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.Q. 135. What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?
A. The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all occasions, temptations, and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; by just defense thereof against violence, patient bearing of the hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit; a sober use of meat, drink, physic, sleep, labor, and recreations; by charitable thoughts, love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, kindness; peaceable, mild and courteous speeches and behavior; forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; comforting and succoring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent.Q. 136. What are the sins forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves, or of others, except in case of public justice, lawful war, or necessary defense; the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life; sinful anger, hatred, envy, desire of revenge; all excessive passions, distracting cares; immoderate use of meat, drink, labor, and recreations; provoking words, oppression, quarreling, striking, wounding, and whatsoever else tends to the destruction of the life of any.
Those who have not Christ as their master will be mastered by their desires.
Notable: #
Some (only some) good advice for men in business, in the form of an an implicit admission that the business world is not a great place for women, and masculinizes them: Y’all wouldn’t believe the stories I could tell that have forced me to learn this stuff 🙃 #etiquette #howto #womeninbusiness #professional #fyp #fypシ #seriouslythough
The Wrongs of Woman by Matthew Schmitz | Articles | First Things, which includes some fascinating history about the rise of the “women are angels” mentality during the 19th century.
If you haven’t seen the movie Man on Fire with Denzel Washington, it’s about the power of fatherhood to drive a man to the end of himself. Watch it.
Talk again next week,
Bnonn & Michael