Greek fraternities have been known to go all the way back to about the sixth century BC today fraternities exist all over the world on college campuses in the military in the entertainment industry and even in the church they do not share all of the same practices or
Beliefs therefore it is necessary to do the research behind a particular fraternity to understand its beliefs and practices if any one of them goes against the teachings of God you should not join them and if you’re already a member of one you should renounce your involvement in them
Here are some fraternity practices that conflict with the teachings of the Bible some fraternities promote having an elite status in society they boast having members of high regard in fields of education politics sciences the arts entertainment and sports and if you are selected to join them you will be
Amongst these elite members and have special connections to them and places of power however elitism is pride what does the Bible say about pride Jeremiah 924 says that we should not boast about our wisdom strength or wealth as Christians we should boast about the Lord and his kindness justice and righteousness
Fraternities include a selective process in their membership each fraternity selection process is different those who want to join are called pledges pledges must meet with the current members to determine if they are a good fit for the group if not the group rejects them but what does the Bible say about Christians
Having a selective process Jesus rejects no one who wants to come to him all who believe in him will be saved ones confession of faith in Christ as Lord and Savior is an immediate adoption into the body of Christ or body of believers fraternity means Brotherhood but Jesus says that whoever
Does the will of my father in heaven is my mother brother and sister members adorn themselves with signs and symbols to represent the fraternity or sorority some of the signs and symbols are associated with ancient Greek Roman and Egyptian culture and their deities ways in which members adorn themselves with
These ancient symbols can include fraternity apparel accessories calls chants dances and hand signs members sometimes tattoo or brand themselves with the markings of the group by adorning oneself with these signs and symbols a member is showing that they give honor to the group and the deities attach to the ancient Greek Roman and
Egyptian societies but according to the Bible this is idolatry the Bible says in Exodus 24 you must not make for yourselves an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea as Christians we should bear the image of Christ which
Means to surrender our lives to Christ do what Jesus calls us to do in our life and share Christ with others the way to do this is to be in regular communication with Christ through prayer and the stud of his word the Bible says do not be conformed to this world instead we
Should have our minds renewed and lives transformed by Christ we should be focused on representing Jesus not the fraternity in some fraternities the members may be required to give reverence to the founders of the group this could be in some form of annual celebration but this is giving man
Reverence not God and if the founders of the group have passed away then this is giving reverence to the dead this may seem harmless but honoring the dead or ancestors is not what Jesus called us to do an ancient Greece Rome and Egypt this was common because it was
Believed that the ancestors could speak to the living and they could receive help from them but according to the Bible we should not be concerned with the dead they cannot hear us nor can they guide us they have lived their life and have passed on they will receive
Their judgement by God so we should no longer be concerned with them we should be concerned with the living jesus said follow me and let the dead bury their own therefore Jesus is the way not the ancestors taking an oath or pledge upon joining the fraternity one must pledge
That they will do all the fraternity desires of them this includes sacrificing our time energy and resources to their causes but it is difficult to give your time energy and resources to the fraternity and to God God and the fraternity are not united as one and we are called by God to give
Every part of our life over to him for his will and his purpose in our lives the Bible says you cannot serve two masters you will hate one and love the other you will despise one and be devoted to the other in some societies as a way of initiation
Into the group members are asked to do things that are psychologically damaging physically violent or sexually immoral this type of behavior is shameful and dishonouring to oneself and to God some of the violent behavior has led to the deaths of pledges and lifelong pain for their families how does the Bible view
These acts of initiation the Bible teaches that if we engage in this immoral behavior we will not inherit the kingdom of God according to the Bible these are acts of the flesh Galatians 5:19 through 21 says the acts of the flesh are obvious sexual immorality impurity and debauchery idolatry and
Witchcraft hatred discord jealousy fits of Rage selfish ambition dissensions factions and envy drunkenness orgies and the light so as a Christian we should never engage in shameful or violent behavior nor should we knowingly allow others in the group to engage in this behavior we should openly rebuke it
Some fraternities may not have an affiliation with or a distinction of God they do not require pledges to believe in one particular religion to join other societies may expect their members to have a belief in God but he is a universal God or supreme architect this
Is not to be confused with the God of the Bible Yahweh the supreme architect is more of a one-size-fits-all God but this goes against what the Bible teaches Exodus 23 says clearly that there is only one God and that we must love and serve Him alone the Bible specifically
Teaches that God exists as three persons in one being the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit he is not equivalent to nature or the universe but he is greater than these things because he created these things if a fraternity goes against this specific description of God
As stated in the Bible a Christian should not join it the Bible warns us that we should not be joined together in fellowship with those who believe in another version of God or no God at all believers cannot be yoked or tied in any form of brotherhood with unbelievers
Fraternities have been known for doing philanthropic work in the community and around the world millions of dollars extensive time and resources have been given to various social justice causes in the world and the local community members are usually required to be involved in the community fraternities have received special recognition for
This but what does the Bible say about our good deeds or works the Bible says let your light shine before all men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven therefore if the motive for doing good deeds is for the fraternity to be honored then it
Goes against God’s will God alone should be glorified he is the one who gives us the ability and the resources to do good will in the first place furthermore the Bible says that we should decrease so that God increases when a Christian does good for those in need then our job is
To point that individual to Jesus fraternities differ on mission statements but most focus on devotion to practical principles in which all members should live by this includes but is not limited to integrity truth good character holistic living and devotion to Brotherhood but living by good principles is not enough the Bible tells
All believers our great mission in life Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15 commands all believers in Christ to go and tell the world about the gospel baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit as Christians this is our sole mission to do the work of
Christ and point all others to Christ until the day of Christ’s return in college do not concern yourself with becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority be concerned with following Christ ask him to show you how to use your time energy and resources to connect with
Others in the body of Christ and to serve Him if you are already in a fraternity and it has shown any of the previously mentioned characteristics then respectfully denounced the group and be willing to share your reasons why with those who are in the group point them to serving only Christ and
Fulfilling his call
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