Christianity and Alpha Phi Alpha
 

Brothers,
How seriously do you take the notion that the "founders had Christian ideals in mind" when the labored to bring forth the fraternal ideal in Alpha Phi Alpha? A couple of years ago, a very dear chapter brother who was extremely active in the chapter and the community decided to renounce his membership due to "religious" (Christian) reasons. This has always perplexed me when I hear people talk about it is "ungodly" to take oaths and to have secrets and things like that. What do other brothers (as well as members of other frats and sororities) think about how seriously we should take the Christian roots and sentiments of our respective foundations?
Blackwatch!!!

Re: Christianity and Alpha Phi Alpha
 

I sincerely beleive that the purpose of any true religion is to promote love and unity. Any person that takes part in a religion or beleif that causes him to choose between two positives or forces one to judge others, does not convey a full understanding of their religion.

Right on Fato
 

I personally do not believe in an organized religion. When you look at the so called shepards of god's flock a lot of them seem to have a second agenda. I believe there should be no middle man between YOU and the Lord. Your relationship with GOD is just that, YOURS. For someone to renounce their association with an organization that promotes manly deeds, education, and service to ALL, in my opinion is hypocrisy.

Re: Right on Fato
 

YEAH!!!

It's all up to the person and how they interpret the Bible or whatever religion they believe in. If you ask a thousand different people their interpretation on the Bible, you'll get a thousand different answers. That's what makes religion interesting and frustrating at the same time. So if this makes your boy happy, you need to support him in his decision.

I am a Christian.
My mom is also a pastor.
She respects and supports my Sorority and trusted me enough to know that I would not have put myself in a situation to compromise myself as a Believer or as a Black Queen.

I think when people put themselves in situations where they are in predicaments that devalue themselves as Temples of God is what may be unChristlike. However, we all fall short from the glory of God and that has nothing to do with greekdom. Being a member of a bglo and becoming a member of bglo we are tested and we grow. That does not conflict the Christian faith. The best test is to go by your moral convictions and your heart. If you are saved, you know what I'm taking about. Being a Christian is not just about reading the Bible and acting "good." It is about followign God's will, having a relationship with Christ, growing in the Spirit.

If a sorority is hindering that, it is not the sorority that is doing that. It is the person. It's kind of like, when you make an idol out of something. But this just doesn't happen with a sorority, it could be a car, money, a house, or even your spouse or your kids.

Just don't put things or people in front of God. Remember what your purpose is here on this Earth. What we do for Christ is what matters. Everything else is in the meanwhile. We are here for but a short time. Being good doesn't save us.

My sorority is not a religion. My sorority is a family that I am a part of in which I cherish the traditions, rites, history, and legacy. I consider it to be yet another blessing. I lOVE IT , i love it, i love it!

Koss28: Christians do not just merely "intrepret the Bible" We follow and adhere to the Spirit. Andthere is no confusion in the Spirit.

My 22 cents on the matter. Feel free to respond or PM me.

It's a matter of interpretation.
 

To ascertain what you and your boy got from that quote is alittle too much for me. The fact that our JEWELS had Christian ideals does not suggest they wanted Alpha Phi Alpha revered as another religion. It only meant that they wanted us to be men of good repute, caring for our people, representing our fraternity through our deeds.

If the JEWELS wanted a religious fraternity, they certainly could've started one.

Sorry to intrude...
 

This topic is discussed on a bulletin board that I am a member of. A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated posted the following that I thought might pertain to the topic:

"I'm jumping into this at the tail end, but I've been very busy lately, so I haven't had the time to log onto the message board as often as I did. But anyway, here's a response that I gave on another message board some time ago concerning BGLO's (and I posted it on this board when the question came up a while back).
At the outset, let it be known that I am Greek.

First of all, it is important to understand that BGLO's (Black Greek Letter Organizations) were not established to be para-church organizations. They were established in a time in America in which there were not as many opportunities afforded to African Americans as there are today. They were established primarily with academic and social principles in mind. Therefore, I believe it's irrational to demean an organization simply because it doesn't function within an ecclesiastical context (and if this is the functional outworking of your beliefs in this matter, I can't begin to imagine the utter monotonous lifestyle you lead). However, in spite of this, they can (and some do) employ Christian values and virtues. I am the chaplain of my local collegiate Alpha Phi Alpha chapter, and I have been planting seeds within the chapter and I know that my labor has not been in vain (and I await, in eager anticipation, the many other opportunities that will be afforded me to plant the seeds of God's Word).

At our Southern Regional Conference in March of last year (and the one this year as well), I had the opportunity to attend the oratorical luncheon. I was astounded at the way in which these brothers expounded upon the subject at hand, and it was no surprise to discover that many of them have plans to enter the ministry. It was encouraging to see other brothers who loved the Lord in one place. So I definitely see the potential for the establishment of godly relationships with brothers in the organization as a blessing. I have such connections through my church organization as well, but through my fraternity I have the opportunity to meet brothers that I possibly would not have otherwise met.

I will admit that BGLO's, for the most part, have strayed from the original vision of the founders in some form or fashion or another. And while it is true that BGLO's were established under different circumstances than those that exist today, this only means that a readjustment of our focus and emphasis is necessary, not that we must throw the baby out with the bathwater. The AME Church was founded under similar circumstances; does any one insist that the AME Church be dissolved? No. Life is full of change; however, we must remain steadfast to the principles upon which we stand. This doesn't mean that we must compromise, but as I said, a reshifting of our priorities must take place within the framework of the original vision which was laid out before us. The motto of my fraternity is "First of all, servants of all, we shall transcend all." While I don't know if this statement was based on this particular scripture, it is definitely reminiscent of Jesus' words to His disciples in Matt. 23:11: "The greatest among you will be your servant." While practices may change with the times, the principles remain fixed.

As far as the oath thing is concerned, it was an affirmation ("I do affirm..."). And basically it was an affirmation of our fraternal principles which should be personal principles for everyone. It concerned the betterment of humankind, the respect of women, working to uplift the family, etc. Oaths/affirmations are not wrong in and of themselves. Doctors have to take the Hippocratic oath; my LB (who is saved) had to take an oath of office before becoming student body president (as do all political figures before they take office); marriage vows are made; there are even vows we take pertaining to church before entering into a particular area of ministry (the diaconate, the presbytery, the bishopric, etc.). This in no wise makes vows, pledges, or commitments wrong. Life itself functions by way of commitments. Also, the term "pledge" is merely a colloquial term describing the intake process. It doesn't mean we had to sign our name in blood on a contract with the shield of our organization at the top. Of course, with any organization, they expect a certain level of commitment from you, and rightly so since you joined that particular organization.

In an essay I submitted to the fraternity as part of the entry process, in the midst of a lot of impressive verbiage (i.e., kissing up) that was utilized, there was one reason I stated for joining that I absolutely, genuinely meant. I stated that the fraternity would serve as a channel through which I can share my desires, gifts, and talents with the world. This is not to say that my church organization doesn't provide me with this, but I believe that one should take all opportunities afforded to him (that are not in conflict with biblical principles, of course) in which to accomplish this, thus reaching a different audience than a traditional church one, and this results in an "enlargement of [our] territory," such as what Jabez prayed for. We have opportunities to venture into different areas and augment our spheres of influence, all so that God may be glorified and His Name be made known. This is likened to Jesus' parable of the sower, in which wheat and tares were allowed to grow together, only to be separated at harvest (Matt. 13:24-30). Even as Bishop Eddie Long has stated (who himself is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi), he isn't against BGLO's because he believes that God plants specific people in specific locations for specific reasons all for the advancement of the Kingdom of God and of His Christ.

As I said at the outset, BGLO's aren't para-church organizations, and as such have their flaws like any other organization. Some do indeed let their Greek affiliations get in the way of their relationship with God, but this doesn't make their organization inherently sinful. We should be against anything that would interfere with our relationship with God, whether it is a girlfriend, boyfriend, basketball team, friends, etc. You won't find any scriptures in the Bible specifically dealing with this subject, just like you won't find a verse that says, "Thou hast been presented with two good job opportunities, one in Chicago, one in Houston. Thou shalt go to Houston." This subject matter is strictly in the realm of principles, and should be dealt with as such. The specific will of God for each individual should be sought in such a situation.

Also, just because I'm in the same organization as someone doesn't mean I'm unequally yoked to them. The term "yoked" implies relationship. I was friends with all of my LB's before we even came into the fraternity, and I was friends with some who were already in. Just because I'm an Alpha and you're an Alpha doesn't mean we're supposed to be friends any more than the fact that just because we both go to the same church means we're supposed to be friends."

This is a good topic but also a taboo topic at hand. When it comes to christianity and greek-letter organizations alot of people that are on the outside, they believe that you have to comprise there morals and values.

Before you make any decision in life whether it is pledging (yes I said it), taking a new job, going for a promotion, you have to pray and put God first. That is always first and foremost. Without God nothing is possible. (I am not imposing my beliefs on anyone. These are my own personal views :D )

There are some people that deounce their organziations because of theor belief. But what I do not understand is, did they do research before taking a oath.

I suggest if anyone plan on joining a org pray and do the research.

Some very Good responses so far....
Psalm 27:1, I Pmed You.

Knowledge 1922, I have a question, you stated: I was wondering, could you elaborate on this a little bit more. I would wonder how you would reconcile scriptures talking about the authority of women in the church, the whole book of Revelation, and Paul and Peter's debate about the Jewish Law in Acts without "mere interpretation". Who's to say that the spirit is not revealing understanding (interpretation). ? Also, How do we account for so many doctrinal and denominational differences about the nature/purpose of the spiritual gifts, the predestination doctrine, and even the doctrine of salvation if we as Christians are interpreting the Bible differently, from the same "spirit"? Why would the same spirit give different interpretations to different people? And if He doesn't, which interpretation is the interpretation from the "Spirit" and how can we prove this?

And Now back to our topic....
I really liked the brother's testimony about what he does with his fraternal affiliation. It is similar to a response I gave to a Man who renounced Phi Beta Sigma for religious reasons. I never find anywhere in the Bible where we as Christians are charged to only associate with other Christians, and if you are not Christian, how can we reach you without building a relationship with you that will allow you to see the love of Christ "fleshed out" in your life unless we are at where you are at? This is why Jesus hung out with people whom the Jews thought were unseemly, because he wanted to show the Jews that we are all a universally fallen people, who all need God's redemption, which is for ALL, not some, but ALL. I think the most powerful ministers are those individuals who live Godly lives on the Job, at school, DURING THE FRATERNAL GATHERINGS, etc, and not necessarily Eddie Long or T.D. Jakes, who can only reach so many people. But if we as individual Christians just let our light shine so to speak where ever we are at, I think that is the most power ministry the body of Christ has.

Yes the fraternity is not a para-church org, championing the cause for Christ per se, but in its attempt to be the "school for the beter making of men", it brings up the notion of morality and righteousness, and therefore the possibility for questioning these ideals. And for that alone I see the possibilities for Alpha Phi Alpha to be limitless as far as developing true brotherhood.
Just my '06 sense worth.
Blackwatch!!!