Let’s talk about Greek organizations and Christianity — a topic I have personal experience with.
When I was in college, I pledged into a fraternity known as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. I was 19 years old at the time, and didn’t know much about what I was doing. People often ask whether Christians should be involved in Greek letter organizations, otherwise known as fraternities or sororities.
If you wonder about this topic, I want to encourage you to do what I did not do back in 1995. Really ask yourself some simple questions to make sure you’re not doing it for a reason that doesn’t align with your Christian values. So here are five questions to help with this decision.
What is my motivation?
Are you joining because you’re seeking identity? Recognition on campus? Are you trying to gain status through a fraternity or sorority? Do you want more attention? Really be honest with yourself about why you want to be a part of the organization, and then check that against your Christian values to determine whether the motivations are pure.
I wasn’t thinking about community service or networking. No, I just cared about how cool it looked to be in this group and how much attention the guys got from girls on campus. I didn’t know any better as a teenager, because my relationship with Christ wasn’t as firm as it should’ve been.
Fraternities and sororities do have some good benefits. Brotherhood, community service, or networking—but at the same time, you don’t need a Greek organization to have those things. You can actually have all of those things through fellowship with others in the body of Christ.
...so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Will this organization tempt me to go against my Christian values?
I’ve seen this up close and personal. The parties every weekend with alcohol, drugs, half-naked women, vulgar music. You have to ask yourself if it’s wise to put yourself in that kind of environment on a regular basis, assuming you can resist the temptation.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
Let’s break that down. It says you’re blessed if you don’t even walk around this kind of environment, which suggests just being around something ungodly that you haven’t made up your mind about yet. You’re just checking it out. Then it progresses to standing, where you’re considering whether to go forward or turn around. Finally, it progresses to sitting, where you’re at home and actively participating. That’s how you can get caught up, if you’re not careful.
How will this affect my witness to others?
You might think you can join a Greek organization and be on the scene all the time, at the parties with everyone else, and think it’s fine because you’re not participating in all the same things. But, as a Christian, you can’t fool yourself. You’re going to be guilty by association if people always see you with those who are living a sinful lifestyle, and people are going to view you, and your faith, based on the environments they see you in on a regular basis. Ask yourself whether membership in the organization will make you a better or worse witness for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Should I take an oath or pledge to this?
The process behind going from an interested prospect to an associated member is called “pledging.” What does the Bible say about oaths and pledges? And how does that relate to Greek organizations and Christianity? Jesus is clear we need to be very careful about that.
“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘by heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great king. Do not even say ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘Not, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”
Jesus is saying we should take everything on a case by case basis, and answer in that moment: Yes, or no. But when you pledge yourself to an organization, you’re saying “yes” to everything that organization stands for. So you need to make sure that you know clearly what an organization is about before pledging it. This can be difficult with fraternities and sororities, because they tend to keep many things secret to those who are not members.
What does your spirit tell you?
Do you have peace and excitement? Or do you feel conviction and conflict? When I was pledging Alpha Phi Alpha, we had to recite a certain poem, which I still remember now. It was “Invictus.”
“Out of the night that covers me. Black as the pit from pole to pole. I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.”
Now, I didn’t have a super strong relationship with Christ at that time, but I was saved. So every time I said those words, something in my spirit didn’t feel good about that. Why was this organization having me recite this poem that acknowledged other gods? But there’s more.
“It matters not how straight the gate, how charged with punishments is the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
Be honest, would you feel comfortable saying that as a Christian? I am not the master of my fate or the captain of my soul—God is.
Should Christians join fraternities and sororities? My conclusion
My junior year, I became the president of my chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. But halfway through my term, I was so convicted by some of the illegal hazing that my organization was involved in, I stepped down. I had to be true to Christ over the culture of that organization.
Hopefully these five questions will help you, or someone you know who might be considering this, think through this decision about Greek organizations and Christianity in a Christ-like way.