Showing posts with label Gospel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gospel. Show all posts

Greek Life and the Christian Life

Tuesday November 25th, 2014 


I started a series of 10 things the Lord laid on my heart to write on, and this topic being number 5. Despite the stance on politics and  popular culture, the ways of God and the Word of God stands supreme. To be a Christian is to follow the ways of God... and to follow Him is to believe in Him undeniably...and in doing that you receive blessings according to your obedience and faith and finally in turn you are rewarded by ruling with Him in Heaven.

As a true believer in Christ you must follow Christ undeniably and truly make him your all. Christians have a right in Christ that He will open all the doors needed to succeed in life, because his blessings are not from man who can take it away, but from Him which last forever. (Proverbs 10:22) Greek life is not for the Christian.  Jesus does not condone social fraternity or sororities, contrary to popular believe it does not help you move up in life if you truly believe Jesus is your provider and source of all things, He is all you need to move up in life.

So you ask should Christians join a fraternity or sororities, especially if one has eyes set on heaven, the simple answer is NO.

In considering the definition, motive, induction, history and heart behind social fraternities and sororities in and out of academic institutions, they do not line up with the Words of the bible and the heart of Christ. We will also look into Christians who have taken the frame work of secular social Greek organization and stated because "hazing" now is memorizing scripture, it's different. Christians looking for a place to fellowship and create sisterhood and brotherhood was first mentioned in  Matthew 16, the "church"..so I think God's way is sufficient enough.

Before going into the background of Greek Organization, those in one and those considering, the first question we ask ourselves is why do we want to join one?

I remember my journey in wanting to join a National Pan Hellenic Council (divine nine) black Greek sorority back at  my old university. They looked like the prettiest, most successful girls on campus. Their history and founders were some of the top woman in the professional sphere, worldwide. I loved their colors, and I felt like I bonded with the already inducted members running the chapter on campus. But, I remember one night during the last week before the semester's Rush(A meeting where interested members go to hand in their application to join the org.), I had brought drinks to an invite only girls late night chit-chat with existing members. It started out  with casual conversations but soon after, was the typical girl talk happening of gossip and name calling. What became worse was the members were just talking about other members within their chapter and other outside chapters or their organizations. I am sure because I wasn't totally sold out to God I joined in, although I do remember being cordial as I was trying to impress them. But talk about sisterhood, every family fights but to pay into a network of such brokenness to feel accepted and pretty, which the Lord according to my belief, did for FREE on the cross, doesn't really make sense.




I share that story because you have to ask why you want to join one of these organizations. What is your motive? Is it for man's opinions or the Lord's opinion. Let's see what this verse says:

1 Samuel 16:7
 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Your motive matters to the Lord. Especially to join social Greek organizations a lot of us back then, and I am sure many will do this the future, was to fluff up and make the Rush application more impressive. One may put they would like to join to give back to the world or gain leadership experiences, which are all great but in a Greek life context on a college campus that can get lost. As mentioned above my own motives were shallow and dealt with the appearance of the organization because many Greek orgs. do put a lot on the physical and the bible warns of us this.
Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.


1 Peter 5:5-7
In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”
 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
The Bible repeatedly encourages humility both in life and in the choice of one's companions. I understand college is a place with many other clubs as well promote instilling leadership qualities in all it's students. But there is a certain arrogance that can come from Greek organizations, which  we need to be careful of, even if its not necessarily you yourself as someone that's not humble, but the culture of Greek life is one of rivalry on the surface.  
The culture of Greek Life also promotes a life that isn't consistent with the bible, such as partying, binge drinking and the likes. As believers we are to leave our old life and to not be of this world although we are in it. I have been told by people who have now been saved by the Lord, they stay in the organizations to maybe share the gospel with their members, well if the Lord is leading you in that direction go with the leading; but to go to events where the spirit of God is not present, is not wise and that we need to careful with.
1 Peter 4:3 (NLT)
You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.

 I know in college the loneliness factor is real. I have felt it, especially if you are dorming and that's when sin can really creep up. So companionship is something we really crave. We need to channel these cravings to seeking people that truly want to glorify God and hearts that reflect the mind of Christ. Although I am going to briefly talk about the idol history of Greek organizations below, many Greek organizations want you to view their members as blood brothers and sisters, even closer than your family. Some organizations go as far as branding with an hot iron (practices that were suppose to be cancelled but aren't), and even exchanging blood by fingers.

The reality for believers in Christ is that our closest relationships must be authentic Christ worshippers and followers, not Greek life members. I know the argument is social Greek orgs are so big, and many orgs span across many states and countries so one can fall into a click of Christians apart from the organization as an all, which is fine, but these organizations promote sisterhood and one person's personality is consistent and can be the face with the  personality of the entire organization.
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 


1 Corinthians 12:24-26
while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.






Lastly, Greek life is deeply rooted in idolatry and the bible specifically warns us about delving into associations like that.

Deuteronomy 13:6-8
If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, 7 gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), 8 do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them.


It's been stated that Greek life can be a  mystery religion. In a nutshell, these organizations are occult societies because they are secret, exclusive organizations open only to the initiated, hazed, and or pleaded into which still till this day can be very dangerous.


Occult: That which is done in secret; disclosed or communicated only to the initiated;
hidden from view; of or pertaining to magic, astrology, or any system claiming use
or knowledge of secret or supernatural powers or agencies.

Christ does nothing in secret and He says that all things which are hidden shall be brought to the light. Neither is Christianity exclusive, but is open to all who will place faith in Jesus.  Consider this as well. What does it mean to be initiated? An initiation is the ceremonies or rituals of admission. A ritual is an established or prescribed procedure for a religious and spiritual rite. These types of acts done in three letters, or two letters organizations are really forbidden and insulting to the Lord. It basically blocks your blessings.

Christians that have formed social fraternities and sororities and tacked on the name of Jesus to it, should not get the argument that everything on earth must be bought back by the Lord. Greek life was never ordained by the Lord, and is a form of idolatry and that needs to be cleared up once and for all.

I love that in this generation, social media  and the internet can help solve at least one thing by showing us many successful people that Have not joined any Greek organizations to get where they are, like Dr. Ben Carson for starters! Google him.

 I loved when I asked my mentor why she didn't join any, because I consider her successful as a Ph.D candidate, wife, mother, and a Child of God; and she simply stated she just didn't feel she needed to. I totally understood and got it, and I agreed, with  Christ as your guide you don't need anyone but Him directing and giving you that support and network you need. Not discrediting a spouse now..lol, but you get it.

No org should be your identity and that is what Greek organizations tend to do with all the gear, and all that. Nothing, and no one including the college or university we go to  should be our idol.. What's really worth dying for on this earth, when eventually we will all pass on anyway. We can't hold anything on earth too tightly , but something we must want to think about, strive for, sow money into, time, and souls for is our eternal life. Have you thought about your eternal life? I myself was raised to understand that eternity was real, but never really understood it until actually this date two years ago. I knew that my actions mattered and would be weighed upon my death by a one true God, and that there is a higher being that can shower you with wisdom to help enrich your life, and there is a devil that can shatter and waste your life by following him. I want to give you an invite to gain wisdom and give your life to a God that won't stir you wrong. That will challenge you to live a life with purpose, that will fill your loneliness to not have to pay a large amount of money, or be ridiculed to join an organization that's deeply seeded in unrighteousness, a God that will take away the sins that boggle you down , like porn, sex, stealing, lying, jealousy, and evil speaking, a God that will love you unconditionally  in your time of weakness, I want to invite you to say YES to Jesus.  I said yes to him two years ago and it was the BEST decision I ever made. Every milestone since then has been of HIS doing, no Greek Org needed, and I have peace and his Blessings add no sorrow!!



Princeton's Sexuality, Integrity and the University conference.



Thank you for reading. As always I am praying for everyone of you. If you have anything to add, on Greek life and the Christian Life, leave a comment below. If you would like to ask me any personal questions, you can private message me on any of my social medias or email me at janet.songonuga@gmail.com. God Bless you!

A recent article on the Matter: http://www.bustle.com/articles/50662-why-the-university-of-virginia-should-ban-fraternities-permanently


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From your Sister in Christ ,


 

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We CAN be Holy and perfect

Friday, August 8 2014

One thing I am learning doing the Lord's work on this blog, while sharing the gospel and my own life experiences, is the Lord will not allow His words to be preahed, while His vessel is not totally anchored in Him. When I say this, I don't mean I tossed out my saved, sancitifed christian life in the waters and went having a ball at the club drinking and all that, its that the Lord was growing me in the most painful  part of my life, my very own ministry. The place where I had the world's biggest waves hit me in the world and now He wants to show me that in Christ, there are many ways one can go about courtship and prepearing for marriage but God has a high calling for the approach that men takes and the respect the woman are to have for themselves. He keeps his most valuablechildren from making mistakes and keeps them hidden when they don't want to for something greater. With that being said, God is allowing me the strength to write about His call for us to be holy as he is holy and perfect as he is perfect. 

Matthew 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 Peter 1:15-17

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
All too often, I hear in the Christian faith from Christians who have identified in their life a day or time they decided to follow Christ, that they are still sinners, they can never be perfect, and that being holy is unattainable on earth.......
If these stories were in the bible I would believe them, but they are not. The bible, which has been given authority states we are to be holy and perfect just like God is in heaven. 
"But Janet how can I be holy in this perverse crooked world!???" you may ask.
Let's first define what holy and perfect are together. When people think of these words in the Christian faith, their images automatically go to angles and heaven. They totally remove the context of the verses above and other verses where the term "holy" and "perfect" are mentioned in the bible . 
Let's break it down. 
When God calls his children to be perfect and holy here on earth, He is speaking of the measure of holiness and perfection one is given on this earth . A verse in Romans 12:3 talks about the measure of faith God gives each of us according to to how humble we are. This is the kind of mentality we should have when God is calling for us to meet these standards. It's very attainable. We aren't angels. We are still in the flesh that feels one thing although the spirit of God through His Word the Bible tells us to act another way. The more consecrated and committed we are unto the Lord, the same measure of holiness and perfection He gives us. We are growing in this act of being holy and perfect. It must be an intentional act because if not, the kingdom of heaven won't be yours. 

Hebrews 12:14King James Version (KJV)

1 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Holiness and perfection are one in the same. When God says He is holy what does this mean?


When we talk about the holiness of God, we’re talking about his separateness. That is, God is set apart from this world. He is set apart from the evil acts of a sinful people. As God’s children, meaning New Testament believers, on this side of the cross, we have been cleansed from our sin. The sacrifice of Jesus has made us clean in the sight of God. We have been made holy through Jesus therefore We can interact with God because of this great gift.

So, practically how do we live a holy life daily?
Living holy again is simple by God's grace. One must seek sanctification, which is an experience for all believers after salvation. Seeing that we have been made Holy through the blood, on the cross of Jesus we need to act like we’re holy.
We are to be set apart from the world. 
We are to stop acting like sinful, unsaved people. Which encompasses everything in these verses and more:
Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice
Ephesians 5:3
 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Just think about things you wouldn't want Jesus seeing when He comes back to take you, His child, back to heaven.
We are to hate sin and steer clear of sinful situations. We are to honour God with our bodies, our every breath and our every thought. That’s what it means to be holy.
Being holy means being set apart for God.
  • For me being holy is watching what I say, I don't curse, and I pray to God to not only speak with grace but also listen and respond with Grace. 
  • For me it means NOT dating the worlds way. Not pressuring a guy to commit to me, but allowing God to lead him, while maintaining purity(no sex) and keeping it open, while my church family and friends know. 
  • For me being Holy means being intentional about reading my bible everyday and letting it's raw words pierce my hearts.
  •  For me being Holy is serving my family first, then my church by attending church services, joining ministries and asking about the well being of my other members, and finally serving my friends. 
  • For me it means watching what I watch on tv and listen to as music..if they aren'ttalking about Jesus, salvation and my finally resting place in Heaven, I ain't listening to it. 
  • Being holy means keeping my eyes on heaven, always checking in that I am growing in faith daily, repenting of any wrong doing,  so heaven is my goal and that I make it. 
Sometimes I don't FEEL holy and perfect. Sometimes I feel so broken, but ALL the time I am praying, asking God, help me identify my weakest moments,keep me in this time of doubt in the flesh. God counts me holy and perfect, because I am not sinning, my flesh just wants to bring me down.

God will teach you very practical ways on how to be Holy as you grow in him. We must remember, to be perfect and holy starts from the inside but will manifest on the outside! There is no "its only about the heart"!
Being holy and perfect is truly truly an act of love for your self and love for others.

Matthew 22:36-40

36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
I love you all. Praying for you.<3

(2014 Graduation Gala at my church)

CHIME IN: In what ways can you be holy in your everyday life?
From your Sister in Christ ,




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Shew thyself Approved

Sunday July 28th, 2014


2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

When I ask many of the youth I come across, if or how they study the bible these are many of their responses:

1. "I don't need to read the bible."  This translates to them feeling they have read enough of the bible and that most of the scriptures they have not memorized, will magically appear in their spirit or mind. Although God is not a magician, they feel meditating on the Word of God(Joshua 1:8), a commandment by God,  doesn't apply to them. 

The sad truth is the verse that God could use to quicken them through out the day, these people will never receive because they have not taken the time to open Gods words and receive something from it.

2. I haven't read it yet today. I only read it at night. This translates to they have not made or don't plan to make adequate time for the Lord, who they may or may not acknowledge. Just like above, to have the Lord dwell richly in our hearts(Colossians 3:16) we must commune with Him through out the day. For God to communicate with us, to truly help us every step of the way, in both our happy and weak times we must read His words in the Bible and pray them in during the day and at night. That is why God also tells us in the very beginning of  the book of Psalm written by a man, God himself classified as a man after His own heart,

Psalm 1:2

 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3. Lastly, I am too tired and I just don't have time to read the bible. Reading the bible, like choosing to wake up, go somewhere, go to work, doing anything, is a Choice. You can choose to follow and worship Jesus today or choose to not. If you don't make time to read the bible you will not. As a believer in Christ, our lifeline to God is reading the bible and praying. There is no way around it. To become as strong in faith like Abraham, Ruth, Paul, Esther, John the baptist, and so many great man and woman of God is by reading and taking up the ways of the bible that has been put together for us to read plus,

2 Timothy 3:16

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

For those curious on why the bible is a text that holds validity. You can read about it's historical credibility HERE  and HERE . You can also watch a very well versed theologian explain it's historical credibility. Plus you can see the manifestation of how the words of the Bible holds true in the lives of myself and many others who have been converted and live a life sold out to Jesus Christ.

Now that we have helped those who were on the fence of believing if the bible was credible enough, let's talk about why many people in my generation find it so hard to read the bible. Many desire to, but when they want to create time something else takes their attention. The answer is simple, its one of the above three excuses, but it's also because there is a spiritual battle for your soul. The Lord reaches out to bring you on His side and  the dark forces also want you to be pulled to their side! The bible talks so much about how the youth will become tired, and weak; these then are the times the dark forces will come and steal the desire to read the only book where you can gain both wisdom and eternal life!

Isaiah 40:30-31

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

Ecclesiastes 12:1

 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Psalm 119:9

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Personal story. I grew up with parents, but a mother who loved the Lord and so I was a church kid(till a parent left the church at 14, and I had a choice whether or not to go, another story). I read the bible growing up and was encouraged to, but when you give your life to the Lord and become Born Again you have to re-read and re-learn everything in the word  because you have a measure of the Holy Spirit in you! The Holy Spirit now helps you truly understand the scriptures and apply it to your specific life situation or for wisdom in the future. So, I was assigned to first read John, the most practical of the gospels. I went home that Sunday I received Jesus so fired up to the read the word. Then I opened the bible so ready to devour it but the devil started fighting. I couldn't concentrate. So then "I prayed Lord help me concentrate, I want to Learn who You are." Then the Lord put it in my spirit out of no where to watch the story of John, while listening to the King James Version(my favorite version of the bible) So I go on YouTube search "Book of John movie" or something very close, and end up reading and studying the book of John the entire night through a dramatization, while taking notes. I then proceeded the next day to read the other three gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke while listening to them audible(didn't need the video ) and writing down what the Lord was speaking to me each time. I found a way for me to be able to inject the word of God into my soul. Now, I am able to read the bible without any audio or movie, and even music because I have grown a deep love for the text. I just bask in the Holy Spirit speaking to me with silence around me. Just as God showed me ways that worked for me, He will show you too.

Now how does my morning routine go? I battled early on with picking up my phone first before the bible. I always remembered to pray and thank God for waking me up, but I wanted the Word of God to be what I consumed next. Putting my phone somewhere far wasn't working either. That annoyed me. Like many of us we like our phones close to us. I too had always kept the physical bible under my pillow, but because I was again picking my phone up, this is what I now do. I downloaded the bible app on my phone and put the verse of the day widget, they also have a full long text bible reading widget and placed it on the screen I see once I click my phones unlock button. So when I unlock my phone the Verse of the day is what I see first! I memorize it and that's the verse I choose to mediate on through out the day. Quiet time doesn't necessarily have to be right after you wake up, but you want to inject something from the word before you leave your house, or really interact with family. Because someone is waiting to test you! You want to pass that test! People may not read the bible but they read us and our reactions!  At night I am really tired, so instead of forcing myself to read a long passage. God favors a little too. I downloaded the "Uplifting Psalms" app, which randomizes Psalms and I read one and pray the words in and go to bed. It's been a blessing.  

The Bible app also has:
  • Bible Reading Plans
  • Devotionals
  • Over 20 Translations of the bible in English
  • Other language translations
  • Audio voice-overs on most translations
You can also choose to pick a devotional to read in the morning. My church sells Higher Everyday youth and adult devotionals. I personally will read these devotionals later on in the day after I have read the bible and gotten my own revelation and interpretation from the God himself, free from mans opinions. You gotta own your own walk in Christ, God will judge you solo.
Aside from quiet time, I regularly will read my physical bible through out the day or read the bible on my app. I also carry my physical bible everywhere with me. Mine is a little big, so I would recommend a nice travel size. It's also great to be able to use to witness to anyone God allows you to come across during the day, so you two can look at the word together. The phone may not be big enough. Plus I see the physical bible as my literal sword. Not sure if anyone heard of the man who escaped a bullet to his heart, due to his bible being in his shirt pocket...YES! God is so real and so good! I also have Jesus outings, where I take my bible and journal and go to the movies, have a picnic, do my favorite things and read! It's precious. I also don't miss my church's bible studies. If you want to grow in the word of God you have to learn from people who God has raised up to teach the bible. God tells His leaders special revelations. I have really grown. I also do the Proverbs challenge, everyday. I love gaining wisdom and Proverbs is the book of wisdom. On the numerical date of the day, I would read the chapter of Proverbs. So on July 28th, I would read Proverbs 28 and meditate on it. I also read parts of the bible I find comfort in, and read a pattern of books and chapters the spirit is yielding me to read. 
So Practical ways to help you read the bible and get devotional(Quiet time) with God, day and night:
  • Find a bible study or follow mine HERE, which gets posted every Monday night
  • Download Pandora, set the alarm option to wake up to a station with your favorite gospel artist, to get you in the mood to read the bible.
  • Start with worship music before reading the bible
  • Download Uplifting Psalms and Uplifting Proverbs app.

  • Put scriptures on your phone and computer backgrounds.
  • Set apart a day or time where you can get deep in the word. 
  • Buy a study bible you enjoy, KJV(closest version to the truth), to get insight.
    • (KJV Relationship Bible)
  • Always have a journal, laptop, tablet, or phone to take notes while reading.
It's important to note, before you start reading the bible we must invite God in and ask for His help in gaining revelation. We must pray before we read. Always.

Hope this helps to the many who have asked me how I study the bible and for those on a journey to read and understand the bible in its entirety. God will expect all Christians to know every word in the bible on judgement day.

Reading the word is doable, can be enjoyably and while reading it shows us our reflection. My prayer is we will allow God's reflection to be our reflections. God Bless you for reading.


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