Being Greek and Being in the Church

[Renegade02]

I was just wondering how you felt about this topic....

There are a few people here in Greensboro NC who have openly come out and say that they joined a greek organization while in college, but once they graduated and became apart of a church and really into Christ, that they "put their letters aside" or more than less had nothing else to do with that organization because being greek doesn't go hand in hand with leading a Christian life.

How do you feel about this, and is this something that anyone had to deal with?


Thanks for sharing any info.

[Intense1920]

There was a recent thread about this topic http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...threadid=49598

Personally, I don't see why there would be a conflict but that is me.

[TheEpitome1920]

Yeah I don't understand the contradiction. But to each their own.

[Renegade02]

Thanks for the link....I see the different views about this subject and I also see that it is a sensitive subject. I guess it all boils down to your personal beliefs.

[Finer Woman10-A-91]

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has a very prominent ordained minister. Rev. Dr. Deborah CP Wolfe. I have had a few conversations with her on the subject of religion and clearly she has managed to balance both religion and sorority life in proper perspective.

Dr. Wolfe was the first Director of Graduate Studies at Tuskegee Institute and the first African American woman to be ordained by the American Baptist Convention.

[Shelacious]

I know that people often cite certain scriptures (that of not belonging to secret organizations, that of not serving two masters, etc.) that might speak to those making a decision to not belong any longer to a Greek lettered org., but here's how I look at it:

1. Sometimes the folks that lived the most "unholy" life during their initial years of being in a BLGO are the first, after they are born-again (in the case of Christianity anyway), to rescind their membership. I believe this ties into the need to leave all those activities that remind them of their old ways, which is what we are asked to do when we become born-again.

I can respect that fact, but I also understand that there is nothing in the premise, principles, Oath or activities of my organization that would make people "act unholy" or engage in behaviors that are unbecoming to a member of the body of God. That is a personal decision that every person makes individually. I was a Christian before I joined my Sorority, so those decisions I made since being a member, both right and wrong, were ones I made personally, not on the behest of the Sorority or any of its members.

2. Some folks allowed their organization to take such a major role in their lives that it superceded more pressing priorities, so now they are trying to rectify it by leaving.

I can also respect that, but again, nothing in the Oath or operations of my Sorority asks that I place it before my God, my faith, my family, my job or my friends. If indeed I gave more money, time and energy to my Sorority than my Church, than that was an individual decision on my part, not one necessitated by my Sorority.

At the end of the day, people have to do what they feel is in their best interest to do. For a variety of reasons, some people feel that being in a GLO will be a stumbling block in their walk with the Lord. I respect that. I just state that it is a personal decision, rather than necessitated by the origins and operations of the BGLO itself.

[lazarus]

THE ROLE OF THE GREEK ORGANIZATION HAS NOT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS. THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH HAS NOT CHANGED EITHER. WE BASICALLY SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE. " SERVING HUMANITY ".WE ATTEND CHURCH TO WORSHIP GOD,WE DON'T ATTEND CHAPTER MEETINGS TO WORSHIP OUR FOUNDERS. WE LOVE JESUS,WE LOVE OUR WIVES, OUR HUSBANDS, OUR CHILDREN OUR PARENTS, AND EVEN OUR PETS. WHY CAN'T WE LOVE OUR ORGANIZATIONS. WHY CAN'T I WORSHIP ON SUNDAYS, GO TO BIBLE CLASS ON WEDNESDAY, CHOIR PRACTICE ON THURSDAY,PRAYER ON FRIDAYS AND ATTEND CHAPTER MEETING ON SATURDAY ? THERE ARE CHURCH MEMBERS WHO DO A LOT WORSE ON THE DAYS WHEN THEY ARE NOT AT CHURCH. ALL OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE BASED ON SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES. OUR FOUNDERS WERE MEN AND WOMEN FROM STRONG CHRISTIAN FAMILIES.THERE ARE THOSE OF US WHO ARE MORE DEVOTED TO OUR JOBS THAN WE ARE TO OUR CHURCHES. I DON'T HEAR ANYONE LEAVING THEIR JOBS AT THE BREWERY OR CIGARETTE COMPANY OR THEIR SALES JOB WITH HENNESEY BECAUSE THEY BECAME SAVED.NOR ARE THEY THROWING AWAY THEIR GUNS OR STOP WATCHING TELEVISION WHEN THEY BECOME SAVED.
WHY IS IT THAT WE ALWAYS POINT FINGERS AND PUNCH HOLES IN THE FEW THINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE GOOD.THERE'S NOT ONE PASTOR THAT WOULD TURN DOWN A DONATION FROM A GREEK ORGANIZATION OR TELL A MEMBER OF THEIR CONGREGATION THAT THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILD TO ACCEPT A SCHOLARSHIP FROM XYZ ORGANIZATION.I LAUGH WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THE USED TO BELONG,BUT NOW THEY ARE SAVED. THEY WERE PROBABLY INACTIVE ANYWAY.NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY,YOU ARE ALWAYS A MEMBER.YOU MAY NOT PARTICIPATE ANYMORE ( WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENS TO MOST OF US WITHOUT BECOMING SAVED )BUT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A MEMBER.BECOME FAMOUS AND SEE IF YOUR ORGANIZATION DON'T LIST YOU AS ONE OF THEIR FAMOUS MEMBERS.WE CAN ALWAYS FIND SCRIPTURES TO SUIT OUR OWN SELFISH PURPOSES AND SWEAR THAT ANYONE WHO OPPOSES US IS STRAIGHT FROM THE DEVIL.JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY YOUR DUES ANYMORE DON'T TRY TO CONDEM THE REST OF US TO HELL.

I TRULY LOVE JESUS MORE THAN ANYTHING THERE IS. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL FOR ALL HE HAS DONE FOR ME.HOW HE DIED ON CALGARY SO THAT I COULD BE FREE,HOW HE WATCHES OVER AND KEEPS ME DAILY.YET I STILL HAVE ROOM IN MY HEART TO LOVE MY ORGANIZATION,BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE.THE GOD THAT I SERVE KNOWS THIS AND ACCEPTS IT.HE KNOWS I WILL NEVER PUT ANYTHING BEFORE HIM AND THAT I WILL ALWAYS WORSHIP HIM AND HIM ALONE.YOU DON'T HAVE TO DENOUNCE YOUR GREEKDOM WHEN YOU BECOME SAVED, IT ACTUALLY HELPED ME TO BE A BETTER SERVANT BECAUSE I WAS USED TO THE CONCEPT OF DOING FOR OTHERS.

TO THE PERSON WHO HAS DOUBTS BECAUSE HE DOSENT WANT TO BE SAVED AND GREEK,DON'T EVEN WASTE YOUR TIME.YOU'LL PROBABLY ALLOW SOME CHURCH PERSON WHO HAS NEVER BEEN TO COLLEGE AND KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE GREEK SYSTEM TO TALK YOU INTO BECOMING INACTIVE.

[Mz Destiny]

Originally posted by Shelacious
I can respect that fact, but I also understand that there is nothing in the premise, principles, Oath or activities of my organization that would make people "act unholy" or engage in behaviors that are unbecoming to a member of the body of God. That is a personal decision that every person makes individually. I was a Christian before I joined my Sorority, so those decisions I made since being a member, both right and wrong, were ones I made personally, not on the behest of the Sorority or any of its members.

Woooo! AAAAAAAAMEN!!! You are surely preachin' Soror!!!

[Mz Destiny]

Originally posted by lazarus
I TRULY LOVE JESUS MORE THAN ANYTHING THERE IS. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL FOR ALL HE HAS DONE FOR ME.HOW HE DIED ON CALGARY...

Jesus died on CALVARY. I feel what you are saying though.

I am not getting on the poster personally, but here is some wisdom for all. Please accept in in love...be careful what you say as well as what you type.

You never know...someone who knows absolutely nothing about Jesus, his crucifixion and his resurrection may have read this post and really believed that Calgary is where he died without searching the scriptures for themselves...

[reddawn18]

Originally posted by Mz Destiny
Jesus died on CALVARY. I feel what you are saying though.

I am not getting on the poster personally, but here is some wisdom for all. Please accept in in love...be careful what you say as well as what you type.

You never know...someone who knows absolutely nothing about Jesus, his crucifixion and his resurrection may have read this post and really believed that Calgary is where he died without searching the scriptures for themselves...

Preach on sister! Preach on!

[Mz Destiny]

Originally posted by reddawn18
Preach on sister! Preach on!

LOL!