Why God is ONE with my letters

As no surprise, this article is in direct response to a previous article denoting "Greek/Egyptian" organizations as demonic institutions and characterizing popular Greek social interactions as idol worshipping. The topic at hand is Greek organizations and their place before God. What's being challenged is a common mishap that occurs when religious people err in their understandings or over-interpret human action as it relates to historical events documented in the Bible. And what the previous writer and those of us, which have been persuaded from the reading, should realize is that the true intentions of Greek organizations are in fact aligned with what God would have his people doing. Of course, a follow up examination will be to decide if the members of these organizations are upholding the Godly standards indicated in their respective principles.Those That Passionately Seek Greek Life
It is true that many students passionately seek the Greek life, especially within the historically Black colleges and universities. Many people devote rigorous time to studying these organizations, meeting its members, and supporting various number of functions. For these people there is something, whether shallow or of great value, that they are seeking through the membership of these organizations. However, no matter how passionately they pursue these organizations, it doesn't mean that they are worshipping these organizations.

If I may make a comparison, let us examine the activities of a typical studious college student. A typical studious college student would attend every class, spend a sufficient amount of time studying after class, get to know his/her professors, and strive to prove better than the general body all to obtain some career within some field or profession. Does this mean that these students are worshipping their fields of interests? The answer is no, and in like manner, those who pursue Greek life are not worshipping any idol god in that aspect. They are striving to prove themselves worthy of admission among the many others who are also working to be the ones selected over many other applicants.

My personal experience with introducing myself to Greek life involved that of a prayer to God. I asked that, if it be of His will, that I gain membership into the fraternity of my choice. As I pursued, I prayed, and as I prayed, I pursued, and with my faith well-favored, I am now a member of that fraternity. If this fraternity life involves so much idol worshipping, why did God grant me this opportunity?

Now, some students do allow themselves to participate in immoral acts, whatever they may be. Some students may become overwhelmingly sorrowful for sake of failure to gain admittance into one of the organizations. These actions are left for God to judge and God alone. If these people love God, despite whatever shortcomings they may have, I personally believe that these experiences will not sever their relationship with God. We all, in some form or fashion, fall short of the glory of God, daily. Who is empowered to judge the other?

The Degradation of History
I am certain that most members of the various organizations were extremely perturbed by the statement that "demons used the founders to create a stronghold for young people for years to come." This is because there is great reason to be upset. Historically, these organizations were created during a period of time where minorities (mainly African-Americans) relied heavily upon each other to gain the ability to advance scholastically and economically in a majority environment. Since the dawn of their existence, each organization has had a great share of men and women within its bond who have contributed well-respected, philanthropic deeds to our nation. Some of them did so at the cost of their lives. So why does this disagree with the statement that demons used these founders? Referencing the Holy Bible, in St. Luke 11, starting with verse 14, it reads, "And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils... But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth." With those words, is it possible for demons to create positive, influential entities with intentions that they become "strong holds" for youth for "years to come?" Not likely.

Of course, a valid question would be, "Is Greek life as it was 100 years ago?" And of course, the answer would honestly be, "No." Unfortunately, Greek life has not proved to be immune to shallow and worldly ambitions, but neither has a lot of some other positive institutions, such as some of the churches that exist today. Do we characterize them as a whole or on an individual basis? Not every Greek person participates in alcohol abuse, fornication, violence and other activities that demean the collegiate experience. Most organizations' constitutions require that members refrain from wearing its "letters" while consuming alcoholic beverages because it shadows the moral influence of the organizations. Though there remain some questionable actions from some Greek members, the Greek organizations continue to be at the forefront of most of the concerns and ambitions of the student body. They do participate in community service. They offer scholarships and mentoring. Greek life is not pure, but the aims and ambitions of the organizations remain pure. It is left up to the individuals within the organizations to uphold them. My fraternity's principles are manly deeds, scholarship and love for all mankind. When anybody asks me about my fraternity, these principles are the first thing I think about.

Taking Things Too Far
The danger in analogies is that, though the relationship may produce similarities, the comparisons may not prove any true connections. It is true that the worshippers of idol gods sung, made sacrifices, danced and called the names of their gods. However, (as testimony from me as a member of a fraternity) it is highly unlikely that any member of any organization looks upon his/her letters as a god. When I am dancing in a circle (no matter how many times my endurance allows me to make it around), I am not worshipping anything. I am trying to have fun and enjoy a social event. When I am referring to God, there is only one that I call upon, and the only Greek letters I refer to him as are the Alpha and the Omega, and that is to say the beginning and ending of all creation. If we were to take the dancing and singing outside of the Greek realm, just how many things would qualify as idol worshipping? If you are at a get-together and everybody is doing the electric slide or singing a song, are you and everybody else in that room worshipping some idol god? You may not be thinking about God at that moment, but that doesn't mean you are worshipping something else.

Criticized Services
In the previous article, the author chose to scorn Greeks for being advocates of safe sex. His view was that the handing out of condoms and the hosting of safe sex seminars condoned fornication. If you are of Christian faith and many other deity backgrounds, it is recognized that you are supposed to wait till marriage before participating in sexual intercourse. However, it is a well-known fact that there is a high rate of untimely pregnancies and the transmission of STDs plaguing the younger generations, especially in African-American communities. The efforts of the Greeks and other non-profit organizations are not to encourage fornication, but to create the habit of protecting yourself if you must participate in sexual intercourse. Once again, the author of the previous article has proved judgmental perhaps due to his own personal experiences with Greek life. He is still wrong in characterizing it with idol god worshipping.

Closing Remarks
Greek life is not perfect. I have had my share of good and bad experiences. As a human, I have perhaps slipped and fell at times before the eyes of God, but I am still striving to be what it is He would have me to be. Greek life does not control people. People determine the level of value that a particular person, group or school will witness from their interactions with the Greek environment. There are a number of areas that Greeks could improve on, and they should strive to improve on those areas. There are also a number of areas that we, as individual human beings, have need to improve upon in relationship to our walk with God. It is up to the individual to decide if he/she is going to consume alcoholic beverages, have sex before marriage, lay vengeful hands upon another human being or commit any other immoral activity.

The fact that Greek members underwent and expect aspirants to undergo such grueling efforts to prove worthy of their admissions is to assure that these people have an understanding of the values of their organizations and are passionate in regards to how involved they will be once within the realms of the organizations. Everything that happens may not be tangible with this aim, and those things that are not are the things that should be removed.
Nonetheless, Greek life is far from any idol god worshipping. As a member of a fraternity and as a believer in God, I take high offense to this accusation. Socially, Greek life experiences high admiration and popularity. As with any respective popular or closely monitored positions in life, there is great temptation, judgment and criticism. If anything, it is a test of how strong your relationship is with God, and it depends on the individual to prioritize his/her life ambitions and goals. Greek members are supposed to be the leaders on the campus, so it is with great charge I challenge the Greek body to prove to be better role models and leaders. When you joined your respective organizations, it should have been part of your commitment to your founders and your preceding brothers/sisters. I've never before heard a claim as blasphemous as this, and for that reason, we should take notice thereof to evaluate our positions in the community. To those who are in pursuit of the Greek life, make sure your ambitions are pure. The Bible teaches us to put God first and have faith that everything else shall follow. Any Greek will tell you that the descending list of priority is: God, family, school/work, and then fraternity/sorority, respectively.