I've been asked my opinion on "Memento" - a fraternal group established by confessional Lutherans (https://memento70.com)

I think something to support men and build fraternity is DEFINITELY needed and I hope the Lord is able to make this into something beneficial for the Kingdom.  I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with what I've read/seen about it so far.  I've even considered participating (and have not fully decided yet).  But I have some serious concerns with the overall architecture that I just can't shake.

THE FIRST concerns can be summarized as "life change is hard - yes it's easier when there is support - and I think a fraternity of guys offering that support is important - but I'm not sure a national [global?] monastic "rule" is the way to accomplish it."  And -- like it or not - even with the voluntariness of participation - this is basically a fairly monolithic monastic rule.  

Secondly, like many things that have happened in the past, the PIETY of those who being such movements turns into PIETISM in the future.  Spener's "Pious Desires" were generally really really good.  What they turned into was really really bad.  The initial benefits for Generation 1 I think are worth considering.  The knock-on effects are seriously concerning.   How many of us are constantly dealing in large and small ways with things that were implemented as good ideas that served a particular need but have become legacy "dead weight" and borderline tools-for-false-teaching or at least a false understanding of faith and pious Christian living in our congregations over the years?

Thirdly, I have concerns with the rollout, business plan, and messaging.  I hold no ill-will toward Stecker - and these things take resources - I worked through most of the DOT-COM boom in the Internet sector - and have continued to be involved in tech ever since.  I have watched startups gain piles of cash from eager investors, burn through it, and then crash and burn, leaving chaos in their wake.   There are too many echos here for me to ignore. 

More specifically, Memento is intended to be a "movement" of men that will be held together by this "app".  I admit, there are individual chapters and small groups, but this is intended by the founder's own words to be a global movement, and advanced electronic communications infrastructure is the way that has been chosen to "hold it all together."  I have to ask myself, as one who has very intentionally worked to "de-digitalized" the most important things of my life, is that a good idea.

Add to this that there have been other efforts to pull laymen together and do really good things that have turned into something different from what it started to be. Research, for example, the DEEP lore of "Steadfast Lutherans," and their initial aim to build a 'Lutheran Laymens League' type mens group --- pay attention NOT to what 'Steadfast Lutherans' became, but what they started out to be.   

My concern isn't just tying people's self-perception of their Christian walk to the preened and produced image presented by an app.  It's also the spiritual fallout and identity loss that will be encountered if (1) the app/movement crashes and burns, (2) is hijacked and used as a propaganda tool [and think about how close to reality it is to say it is built and intended to BE a propaganda tool!], (3) becomes an institutional albatross, or (4) generally "drifts" significantly, but by imperceptible increments.

Fourth, the methods (sales, influence, cross-podcast reinforcement, etc) being used for deployment, and even the "hooks" and promotional aspects of the "movement" seem very much to engage in worldly pattern of establishment and building that comes dangerously close to doing what St. Paul says that ministers do NOT do in 2 Corinthians 4:2 when he talks about HOW ministers encourage faith and development by commending themselves to the conscience, rather than building worldly structures and using worldly influence techniques.  I'm not speaking of false teaching, I'm speaking of using worldly methods and processes adopted from worldly machinations to build the kingdom.  Fighting against my own desires to pursue such methods is something I've struggled MIGHTILY with as I have worked over the last 15 years to build numerous things that I think would be / are good for the Kingdom and which have cost me greatly both financially and in terms of time.  The natural man likes to see growth and progress - and this rollout and the rhetoric used to effect it plays into that.  

I'm not saying it's engaged in intentionally, with foresight, or purpose.  I'm making an observation of the fruit, not peering into the intentions of the heart.  SO - to be clear - I'm NOT accusing anyone involved of anything wrong.  THE MOST I'm accusing them of is a level of "short sightedness."  I think they have good desires, intentions, and earnest hearts.  What's more, I trust that the Lord will bring good out of whatever it is, because that is the Lord's nature.  But I have a number of concerns which so far have kept me from embracing this, even though I really, really, really want to, and really really really think SOMETHING is needed to accomplish the general aims purposes and objectives of this.  I just think something modeled more locally and more organic, rather than based on "apps" and "manosphere" type fads, would be more suited to what needs to happen.

One example I would point to would be the R.C. "Fraternus" group, to whom I pay more than twice as much as this "app" will cost each year, but they send me a real, physical periodical, and several books per year.  (My reason for doing so has been in hopes of finding a LUTHERAN way to express such an organization... but.... time-keeps-ticking-away....)

One thing I've learned is that it's much easier to convince people to "invest" in a vision of a finished product.  That's what all the worldly gurus teach.  What I've learned in parish ministry is that the vision and the goal is often not the point, it's the journey to get there.  And while giving a "hat-tip" to the difficulty of the journey, Memento seems to short circuit that and allow users to "arrive".