This change of heart and mind started with a trip back to the yard with my line sisters for homecoming weekend in 2013*. Friday night, we attended a Greek Show. Afterward, I stood with them watching some fraternity guys do their dance. I watched one guy’s face morph from that of a perfectly normal human being to the exact imitation of a dog—tongue hanging out, neck twitching, panting. I thought, “Wow. That’s amazing how he just did that!”
Something in me said, “That’s not natural.”
But since I’m obviously not in a men’s fraternity, I brushed off the thought.
The next day, there was a meeting of the sorority sisters in the dance hall. There must have been about 150 or so of us in the room. Some of the women were yelling a chant that I never learned, and there was a line in the song about how we would show St. Peter our sorority pins and be admitted into heaven. Mind you, that’s not an official song of the sorority, but again, it gave me pause. It caused a restlessness in my spirit that I couldn’t shake.
So I began to ask Him questions: God, what do You think about sororities and fraternities? Did these organizations exist in biblical times? Would Jesus join a fraternity? Can I imagine Him throwing up the hand signs? What does the Bible say about what I pledged to 21 years ago?
That last question led me to do something that I had not done since…ever! I didn’t actually know what all I had pledged to because, as secret societies go, you can’t completely know what you’re pledging to until you’ve already pledged. You don’t get to read “the books” until you’re already in. It’s like signing a blank check based on the fact that so many other people you admire signed it blind, too.
To be honest, the night I “went over”, I put on my T-shirt, pranced around campus with my new sorority sisters, and rejoiced like crazy. When we finally received our sorority books, I didn’t actually sit down and read them. I put them on a shelf. Admired them. Smiled at them. The only time I pulled them out was when I had to go to a ceremony and read a portion of text. Otherwise, I didn’t read those books any more than I read every single page of my car insurance policy or my student loan papers. In fact, ALL of the sorority members who have sincerely asked me about my renouncement have admitted to me that they’ve NEVER read their books completely, either.
Truth be told: When I really started to think about it in 2013, I didn’t want to read the books. Not prayerfully. Not with my growing knowledge of the Scriptures. Not with the Holy Spirit’s magnifying glass handy. I didn’t want to find out anything that would cause me to lose connection with my line sisters, make me have to renounce, make me have to risk people thinking I’m “too deep” spiritually, or even cause people to stop reading my books if they found out I had renounced. And what was I supposed to do with all that paraphernalia?
Despite the fact that I didn’t want to re-examine what I had pledged to, there was no way I could quench those burning questions without reading “the books”. Even more, I had to question myself: Why am I resisting this? If it’s all good, there shouldn’t be a problem, right? Why am I trusting all these other admirable Christian women’s interpretations rather reading the books for myself?
So I did it. When I returned from my weekend at the yard, I read all three of my little books from cover to cover in one sitting for the very first time ever. The result: I no longer agreed with what I had pledged to.
As I read some of the passages from our intake process again, I remembered how (back in ’92) I’d had an uneasy feeling with some of the vows. I remember thinking, “This kind of sounds like a Scripture…but it’s…different.” Yet, I’d carried on. I wasn’t going to abort the process. Back then, I didn’t recognize the “uneasy feeling” as the Holy Spirit’s check. Secondly, I didn’t want the disgrace of having “dropped” the line. People at my small college would look at me crazy from that day forward. Last but not least, I sure wasn’t going to waste all the hard-earned money I had spent to pledge. No ma’am!
We were in one of the first lines to go through the membership intake process since strict new anti-hazing laws had been passed. We were pretty certain they weren’t going to hit us or make us drink ‘till we passed out or get with some guys we didn’t know. I figured, “If all we have to do is say some words, I’m in there!”
I didn’t understand the power of words.
Needless to say, after reading the books decades later and researching the disturbing history of secret societies, I could no longer remain a member of a Greek letter organization.
I was out.
I was content to leave quietly, like an uncontested divorce. But in recent months, I’ve heard the buzz from my younger cousins and nieces about pledging sororities and I’m cringing because I know what they are about to agree to. They can’t know because no one within the organization will inform them ahead of time. Like me, my sweet relatives probably see the strong women on campus exemplifying sisterhood, doing good things, and they want to be a part of it. They have no concept of how these organizations are inherently bound to Greek gods.
I can’t speak for every fraternity or sorority because, obviously, I haven’t read all their books. But I have Googled and found the official lyrics of the anthems of the “Divine Nine” (isn’t that something to be questioned right there?) and I can tell you that I wouldn’t advise any believer to sing or speak those words. This is why I am compelled to share what I know now.
Thank you so much for reading this post. I welcome any comments/questions. I pray that it will help you make an informed decision about joining, leaving, or staying in a Greek Letter Organization. Please know that I have shared this in Christ’s love and a deep concern for His body. He is Lord!
In my next post on this topic, I’ll share some of the most frequently asked questions from people who have wanted more information about this decision. I’ve been hit with some hard questions – everything from “Is it really that serious?” to “Why are you trying to break up the black community?” to “You think you’re holier than my Pastor, who is a proud member of…?” I’ll share my answers to those questions and more.
If you’d like to ask something, please feel free to comment, inbox, or email me! Be blessed!
*Note: While I was only privy to one sorority’s information, I think it’s important that every believer in any sorority/fraternity/secret society read their books entirely!
Thank you for having the courage to denounce and tell the truth about those types of organizations. I applaud you.
Thanks, Rhonda! I do hope people will read their books, if nothing else!
This a great segway to making an informed decision regarding fraternity/sorority choices, I hope & pray you will be received well by those reading this, we should be more “conscious” about the choices we make… even the peer pressure that may ensue, the Word tells us to get wisdom thank you for being obedient by the urging of the Spirit, we are but dumb sheep & some of us will be slaughtered without the truth, God bless you!
Thanks, Rita! It is so very important to seek His truth above everything!
I’m not a member of a sorority, but I thought about joining one. I even went so far as to research what I needed to do to become a member. This is definitely food for thought.
Yes – definitely something to consider!
Thank you for walking in your holy boldness.. .
I hope more of us will speak what God puts on our hearts!
I am even more proud of you, Michelle! You have God’s anointing on your life! Praise God!!! LeeLee
Hey Letha! Praise God for His goodness!
I wanted to join back in college, but one girl slapped another in our student center and I knew right there, that I wouldn’t take that.
My word, Carla! Thankfully, nothing like that happened at the chapter I pledged. But, um, yeah – that would have been enough to make me not pledge, too! LOL!
I have always had an uneasiness about sororities and fraternities. And what is their purpose? Especially when you are a child of God. Isn’t the brotherhood/ sisterhood of man enough? Thank you for your perspective. I know it’s unpopular especially with so many respected women of faith who have pledged.
Thank you, Lori!
It doesn’t matter because you’re still the best mom ever so….. yea:)! Proud of you for voicing your opinion publically.
Love you, too, BKay!
Proud of your decision and glad you shared! Whats your take on the so called christian sororities?
Hi Tera! Thanks for the encouragement! I just learned about Christian sororities last week when I posted this article. I have to do a little research on them before I can really say.
Pingback: Part 2 – Why I Renounced Membership in a Greek Sorority and Why I’m Compelled to Tell Others | Michelle Stimpson.com
So well stated! Thank you for standing for Jesus. When I was an unbeliever, I never understood the big deal about sororities and fraternities so they were not of interest to me to join. Now that I am a believer, I praise God for never being interested. As we grown in Christ, we are going to continually be challenged on our associations and affiliations.
Hey Tamara, yes – we are continually being challenged and conformed to the image of Christ!
So I have recently decided not to be an active member of my sorority. I just keep hearing God questioning why I joined after I rededicated my life to Christ. One thing I never understood is how so many people completely change after they cross. My friends always commented about how I never changed who I was but at the same time I began to grow in my relationship with God after I joined my sorority. After a year and a half, I slowly began to distance myself like not going to sets (hanging out at the frat’s or soror’s house, etc.), only coming to meetings, and other things. The more I became uninvolved the more hate I got. I went from being President to stepping down and taking on a smaller role this semester (I really wanted to quit last semster but I remember my dues are nonrefundable). Still I find myself having a hard time letting go. My sorority sisters don’t understand why I chose to leave and why I no longer seek to participate. They look at it as me quitting the friendship and sisterhood. Even though God confirmed to me a month ago that I needed to leave I struggle with still caring and doing the business part. Am I being defiant going against God for helping? I have so much guilt because I am a leader and many of the girls looked up to me.
Hello Domonique. Read part 2 and a lot of your questions will be answered.
https://michellestimpson.com/2017/05/07/why-i-renounced-membership-in-a-greek-sorority-and-why-im-compelled-to-tell-others-part-2/
Hey sis! Thanks so much for sharing your heart. As our sister in Christ, Tamara, said – the second part of the story answers that. It can indeed be hard (to our flesh, to our feelings) to walk away. Three things: 1) Following the Spirit’s leading is ALWAYS the best choice. I have found that when I stay in anything (a job, a project, a connection with someone) beyond the time that the Lord tells me to, things get way uglier than if I had just left when He said leave. 2) Don’t ever let money be the reason for disobedience or delayed obedience (I know this from experience, too). God is our Father. There is plenty more money where that came from. 3) You have more sisters in Christ than you have in a Greek sorority. God will prove Himself your BEST friend and then send along some other sisters who are in close fellowship with Him, too. He might even cause you to befriend those same young ladies who are looking up to you should they ever come to the conclusion that it’s time for them to leave, too. Love ya!!!
This is very encouraging thank you.
Hello,
I am dealing with not knowing if I want to be apart of a sorority now. Learning all of this, I still feel a pull to join , even though I know i might not like the process and the things they stand for are wrong. But , I am going to a school where I feel like a number and without purpose. My closest friends here are doing it and I feel that if they do it without me , this will ruin our relationship. I know that is a bad reason to do it , but I also like the values of the sorority, and I crave a sisterhood that will last a lifetime since I am the only person here at my college from where I’m from. It also hurts because I always looked forward to doing this in college and now that is being contradicted. It is causing me to think about it everyday and get super depressed and sad. I really want this spirit of sadness off of me so that I can just be okay with my decision of not doing it instead of feeling that I would be left out or not able to build relationships without it or not seen as a good example. I feel really weakminded, and as if I can’t hear what God is saying to me. I find myself only being reassured or feeling better when I talk to someone, and right after, I start to feel bad. I want to be able to find solace within myself and God .It’s so much more I want to say but…
Hi, I just came across this post, please understand that joining a sorority is like signing a deal with Satan. I too denounced my membership in a black Greek sorority and I was in it for over 20 years, what looks good on the outside is just like eating a poisoned apple. God says, “Have no other god before Me”. Please understand when you join a sorority, that will become your ‘god’. They demand all of your time, money, and talents to promote the sorority, not God. You may think you may get ‘sisters’ but it is not at all what they present on the outside. Jesus said that you cannot serve two masters, you will serve one and hate the other. Consider the bible verse that says, “let your good works be done before men so they will glorify GOD”, when you join a sorority when you do your ‘good works’ people do not glorify God, they glorify the sorority. Many people join sororities/fraternities believing that it will make them ‘somebody’, or to get status, but it comes with strings attached. Jesus warns us “what does it gain a man to gain the whole world and lose their soul?”. Please understand, we who have been in it know what is behind closed doors, you see the pictures and think they are having so much fun and are so connected, that is just a facade. yes, if you are young, you can have fun, but you can fun and get relationships without selling your soul.
Christ’s Blessings Michelle. Thank you for your ministry unto the Lord. I have been studying the spiritual implications of Christian believers pledging for close to 40 years. I am currently approaching the third residency of my doctoral degree, which is addressing this very issue. Would you be willing to allow me to share my methodology for the purpose of potentially interviewing you for the study (can be anonymous). For the sake of Christ, Rev. Elaine Baldwin
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Hello, my sister. I’m so sorry I didn’t see this earlier, but I’m pleased that others have jumped in and shared what I would have shared with you as well. Life in Christ is peculiar. There will be times when you feel “left out” because you don’t do things the way others do. It might cost you a boyfriend who wants to follow a worldly pattern of dating, friends who want to do things you don’t believe in, or co-workers who don’t invite you to hang out with them (all three have happened to me). Joining a sorority, a book club, a gang, a social club, or ANY organization that you believe is out of line with God’s will for you is only going to pull you further from Him.
One of the best things you can do is pray for godly friends and ask God to show you where you can connect with others like you. They may not look like you, they may not come from where you’re from, that’s okay. There are MANY believers who want and need encouragement from one another. Those in Christ are your true family. Be blessed!
Michelle,
I APPLAUD YOU IN JESUS NAME!
I would also like to interview you. If you email me I will send you the details.
Christ Alone,
Elaine
Hi Elaine, you can email me at stimpson . Michelle @ gmail.com
delete the spaces, of course 🙂
It’s very obvious that greek fraternities and sororities … especially the most popular and well-known ones …. are demonic and anti-christ in nature.
1) Simply examine their hymns
2) Every NPHC organization have songs where they say their mind, heart, and soul belongs to their respective organization … that’s very disturbing and demonic.
3) All are involved in the most disgusting hazing tactics. Even if ain’t your chapter, we all know it’s happening, and what happens at one chapter is reflection of the whole organization which is the whole concept behind greek life so you’re guilty by association.
4) Watch any probate in person or on Youtube and just see how demonic and flesh-driven it is. Ain’t nothing Christ-like or wholesome about it.
5) The NPHC have been known to used the brown paper beg test to exclude dark skin people. They claim to be Christ based but Satan is the originator of lies and confusion …. need I say more?!
I can go all day. The people who can’t tell don’t want to see it or don’t know Christ. God sends sign to His people, are there are many bad signs with greek life. I mean people have died due to pledging this organizations …. wake up.
Reblogged this on Glitteringfollies's Blog.
Thank you!!!