Lexzie in Christ

Story time:

There once was a woman who married a man. She was a good woman. She fell in love with this man and was totally devoted to him; in speech and in practice.

Then, gradually, it all started to change. She’d never expected perfection; so, that wasn’t the issue. The real dilemma was in realizing that: her husband posed a conflict for her soul.

So, she drifted away from him.

She was eventually drawn to another man. This man reminded her of what true love is. What freedom is. What right and wrong is. She could not deny her love for him. She knew that she could love him genuinely. So, she wanted to take him as her husband.

But, she never divorced her first husband.

The new man – the one she was now drawn to – was dedicated to right and wrong, to loyalty and true love. And, he was completely opposed to sin. As much as he wanted to love her, the woman was spoken for. No matter the “new” desires of her heart, she was already pledged to someone else.

This story illustrates what happens when you make a covenant with something that is not of God.

It symbolizes the conflict that occurs when you turn (back) to God, while refusing to sever your connection with the other thing.

In this post, that “thing” is: Your fraternity or sorority.

To be clear: The Bible mentions “adultery” in relation to both earthly marital relationships and idolatry.

It doesn’t matter that you are no longer “in love” or “involved” with your organization. Once you realize that you’ve pledged your life to something that is not of God – especially when you’ve done so in a ceremonial way – with altars and candles… with oaths and bonds… with rituals and secrecy…

Once you’ve joined your soul with something else, you are tied to that thing until you break that bond.

When I left my sorority in 2016 – after eight years – I did so the formal way; partially because I felt that I would backslide.

See, God has often called me out of things before I was ready to leave. So, though He exposed more than enough for me to spiritually and mentally justify my exit, I was still emotionally enamored with the organization. I needed to leave in an “official” manner so that I could know that there was no option to return.

The process to leave was difficult. No one – and I mean no one – made it easy. Not the sorority, not the notary, not the post office…

Nevertheless, I was finally able to “renounce” officially. And, about a year later, I “denounced” publicly via social media. I know that many people find it unnecessary to officially – and legally – break their covenant. And so I submit this:

If you don’t sincerely seek God’s will on the matter of your exit… If you sneakily fade away without an honest conversation with Jesus… then you are just like the person in the story I told: Someone who made a quiet exit, but is ultimately still married to their first spouse (the secret society). Someone who is committing adultery and perpetually offending the One they claim to love (God). Someone who is technically still indebted to the one they made a covenant with.

I strongly believe that you should go out the way you came in. Publicly. It may not be via social media, but there should be no lack of integrity about it.

Trust me, I know it’s not easy. In fact, it is hard. It was so hard for me.

People are leaving in droves now; and they’re leaving loudly. So, you would be in good company if you decided to renounce now. But, I won’t say that it makes it any easier to do. After all, you made a spiritual covenant. And, when you try to leave something that is of the enemy, the enemy will try to attack you inwardly via anxiety or outwardly through social means. You have to expect those attacks.

I left because God convicted me that it was not of Him and He called me out of it. But, at the point of my leaving, I didn’t yet understand the fullness of Christ. Therefore, leaving was terrifying to me.

However, if you truly know that you are covered in Christ, then you certainly have a better understanding of His presence than I did at that time. He can usher you through it boldly and confidently. You are covered by His Blood and you are in His hands.

1 Peter 3:13-15a Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 

Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Over the years, I have had friends ask me what I thought about Christians remaining in the organization. To those who were not “greek,” I would speak the truth. To those who were “greek,” I would compromise my answer. I would say something like, “I don’t think it’s of God, but God convicted me of that. If He hasn’t convicted you, then maybe He won’t judge you.”

I don’t know how many people I might have served as a stumbling block for with that insane response.

This is why it’s so important to know scripture and to read your Bible. My exit was solely a Holy Spirit-led exit. (And, I praise God for it!) But, I had few Biblical truths to back it up – other than a surface understanding of idolatry and the first commandment.

I hadn’t yet learned that everything should be for God, and for His glory. I didn’t understand that our purpose as Believers is to spread the good news Gospel of Jesus. I didn’t yet have a deep understanding of Christ.

Because of this, I have missed out on many opportunities to minister.

So let me be clear now: Leave your sorority or fraternity. Leave the Divine 9. It is not of God. You are committing idolatry and “adultery” whether you believe it or not. You are in a covenant with something that is not of God, but of the devil.

Many people on social media have started pointing out some of the clearly problematic – and frightening – things found in the rituals. Like many others, re-reading my ritual was the final straw. In addition, there are many other things that God has led me to research and understand.

I will share them here, with an emphasis on things related to the sorority that I was a part of:

MINERVA:

We prayed and sung hymns to both the organization and the sorority mascot: Minerva. Minerva is a Roman goddess – one who parallels with the Greek goddess, Athena. This is a “god” which people still worship to this day. There are several statues of her in the U.S. alone. There are a handful of Minerva-Athena statues and images in + on the capitol buildings in Washington DC; a 9 foot tall statue in Brooklyn, NY; there’s one in North Carolina; and more.

Minerva’s image was on our shield – and, therefore, on our paraphernalia. She was on just about every item we owned. Not only did we “praise” her with our mouths, through song and prayer… We also sported her on our bodies.

Each Divine 9 organization has an affiliated entity or deity – be they Greek, Roman or Egyptian. Most are just way more innocuous than Minerva. And, while this country may not worship Minerva or the others, there are people around the world who still practice the ancient religions – including the Hellenic religion.

HELLENISM, GRECO-ROMAN CULTS + MYSTERY RELIGIONS:

Let’s speak on the Greek-Roman, connection.

The night that God led me to begin my exit out of the sorority, I researched a bunch of stuff and landed on the Greco-Roman Secret Cults. Have you ever heard of Mystery Religions? Here is an excerpt from Britannica:

Mystery religion – various secret cults of the Greco-Roman world that offered to individuals religious experiences not provided by the official public religions.

The mystery religions reached their peak of popularity in the first three centuries AD. Their origin, however, goes back to the earlier centuries of Greek history.

The word mystery is derived from the Greek verb myein (“to close”), referring to the lips and the eyes.

Mysteries were always secret cults into which a person had to be “initiated” (taken in).

The initiate was called mystēs, the introducing person mystagōgos (leader of the mystēs). The leaders of the cults included the hierophantēs (“revealer of holy things”) and the dadouchos (“torchbearer”). The constitutive features of a mystery society were common meals, dances, and ceremonies, especially initiation rites. These common experiences strengthened the bonds of each cult.

Per, The Historian’s Hut: “In the ancient Mystery Religion cults, many Greco-Romans found spiritual belonging and redemption.”

You could choose which mystery religion you wanted to seek initiation in. There were gods (and goddesses) at the helm of each. Some cults were more vile than others, but the process for initiation was always a secret. In fact, information is still pretty scarce. Still, it is well documented that many processes involved sexual acts and crime.

Check out this write-up from Britannica on the Dionysiac cult festival:

In every Greek city the god Dionysus was worshipped by fraternities and sororities and also by mixed communities…

The Dionysiac festivals included not only drinking wine and engaging in sexual activity but also participating in such significant features of Greek civilization as choral singing and mimes.

In many cases, only the initiated could participate in the ceremonies.

It seems that initiation into the Dionysiac Mysteries was accompanied by initiation into sexual life. …worshippers of Dionysus were aware of a mystic communion among the ancestors, the living generation, and the future members of the community.

With regards to Hellenism – Greek theology includes several main points which may sound familiar to anyone in a sorority or fraternity: Eusebia (reverence + respect); Arete (excellence + moral virtue); Xenia (guest-friendship + ritualized friendship); Offerings and Rituals (prayer, offerings, libations + setting up altars).

I am pointing this out to showcase that these parallels did not come out of thin air. There is a foundation to the Divine 9 which is not Christian in nature. You cannot ignore its blatant Hellenic origins. You cannot write these “gods” off as harmless mascots. You cannot ignore that the Divine 9 takes its cues from these Mystery Religions, as well as from other prominent secret societies (ie. Freemasons, the Boule). You cannot ignore everything that God commanded or that Jesus preached.

Britannica cited that the word mystery stems from a Greek verb meaning “to close” your lips and eyes. In the context of an initiate: what you’re seeking remains veiled.

But, the Bible says: Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

The Bible says: I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:4-5

OATHS:

There is a portion of the ritual which contains the intake ceremony script. In it, the Chapter President asks initiates: “Do you of your own free will and accord seek admission into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority?”

After the response, the President states: “You are about to take upon yourselves vows and obligations from which you can never be freed. They will follow you to the Final Judgment.”

(And, yes, the “F” and “J” are capitalized.)

Compare that to Scripture:

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Galatians 2:4 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

1 Peter 2:16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

Look at what Jesus did for you:

Hebrews 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Compare it even further:

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Matthew 12:36-37 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

ALTARS:

Fraternities and sororities utilize altars during the official intake ceremony as well as during official meetings. Some set ups may be more elaborate than others, but you can look for certain items such as candles, shields or ceremonial books. These items must be positioned in a certain way each time.

What is an altar?

Per Wikipedia: An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. …They are used particularly in Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and modern paganism. Many historical-medieval faiths also made use of them, including the Roman, Greek, and Norse religions.

Oxford English Dictionary: a table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, especially for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity.

Many brush past the magnitude of having an altar present.

But, look at Scripture: As Jesus admonishes the Pharisees, He sheds light on the significance of the altar. Pay attention to the bold.

GOD + SPIRIT MENTIONS:

Toward the end of initiation, the initiate states: “I, ___, do promise in the presence of the Eternal Spirit of Truth, and these finite witnesses, that I will never reveal in any manner whatsoever … any of the secrets, passwords, signs, grips…”

First, compare the notion of secrecy to Scripture:

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, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity.

Now, compare the sorority’s “Eternal Spirit of Truth” to the Bible’s Spirit of Truth, which is the Holy Spirit:

John 14:15-17 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

1 John 4:1-3 and 6b Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

…This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Shortly after this, the President says: “We believe in a spiritual life but we leave to the individual the selection of the medium for its outward manifestation.”

She then reads a poem which mentions everything from “fire, planets, crystal balls, the seasons, the moon, the mystic ocean, mothers, Socrates and Jesus.” Essentially this poem is recited in order to underscore the fact that your faith may manifest itself as any of these, or in whichever form you choose. Each stanza ends with “Some call it ___, others call it God.”

As a reminder – this comes after making a promise to the “Eternal Spirit of Truth.”

So if the Holy Spirit testifies firmly that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah), and to His divinity (as God). Yet, the Eternal Spirit of Truth believes that you can consider whomever you want as “God.” …We have to come to the conclusion that these are two different spirits.

What does Scripture say?

Isaiah 30:1 “Woe to the obstinate children,”
   declares the Lord,
“to those who carry out plans that are not mine,
    forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit,
    heaping sin upon sin;

PRAYER + HYMNS:

There are many songs, hymns and prayers that are directed to either Delta or Minerva. Some were said during the initiation ceremony. Others were said at the close of every meeting. Example, we sang: “Delta! With glowing hearts we praise thee!”

The ritual also includes many passages which are pulled straight from the Bible. Yet, words are changed and the mentions of “Lord” are replaced with “Delta.” For instance, it says: “Delta is the light of the world.” Compare that to Scripture in which Jesus tells us that He is the light of the world (John 8:12 and John 9:5), and that those who are in Him are also the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16).

SACRIFICES + THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT:

Verses from the Old Testament:

Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me.

Deuteronomy 32:15b-18 They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior.
They made him jealous with their foreign gods
    and angered him with their detestable idols.
They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God—
    gods they had not known,
    gods that recently appeared,
    gods your ancestors did not fear.
You deserted the Rock, who fathered you;
    you forgot the God who gave you birth.

Some may hear the word “sacrifice,” and consider it irrelevant; a thing of the past.

However, the New Testament sheds light on how Believers are to present ourselves:

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

When asked the greatest commandment:

Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 

Spiritual Fruit:

Galatians 5:22-23a But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

There is an unofficial song that Divine 9 members sing, with each member subbing in their organization’s name. “All of my love, my peace and happiness… I’m gonna give it to ____.”

And everyone who knows, knows, that it is sung with fervor, excitement and meaning.

God recently revealed to me that, in singing that, you are verbally declaring to give all of your firstfruits – love, joy and peace – to something other than Him. It goes against the first commandment. It goes against the greatest commandment. It is a form of worship and praise. It is a rejection of the Rock, the Savior. And, after you cross, it is one of the ways in which you continue to present yourself as a sacrifice to something that is not the God of the Bible.

The Bible says:

2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”

MOTTOS:

Delta’s public motto is: “Intelligence is the torch of wisdom.”

But the Bible says: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

—

Another organization’s motto is: “Friendship is essential to the soul.”

But the Bible says: You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

—

Another organization’s motto is: “First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All.”

But the Bible says: Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

and

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

—

INVICTUS:

One of the poems commonly “spit” by members of the Divine 9 is “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley.

This is not in the ritual. It is simply adopted by Greek Letter Organizations. However, no one should be leaving their discernment behind to recite something like this. As Christians, we should be very wary:

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.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

      I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

      My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

      Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

      Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

      How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

      I am the captain of my soul.

And now, scripture:

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Hebrews 2:10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 

For the record: Every line of “Invictus” is unbiblical and can be combated with Scripture.

BURNING SANDS:

Let’s look at the idea (or reality) of an initiate “crossing the burning sands” as compared to the mention of “burning sands” in scripture:

Isaiah 35:7-9:

The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
    grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

And a highway will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.

No lion will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,

Here is a brief explanation, courtesy EnduringWord.com:

After the judgment on the nations described in Isaiah 34, God will bring a beautiful restoration.

When God’s salvation comes, miraculous provision comes with it. What was dry and useless before becomes well-watered and fruitful.

I know that there is much more to be said about these verses, but I just wanted to quickly show the inversion. There are concepts that hold significance and weight, Biblically. The things you look forward to – or the phrases you toss around callously in greek life – may be things you’d run from if you were better acquainted with God’s word.

INVERSION OF THE NEW BIRTH:

Secret societies invert so much of Christianity. The entire process is essentially a new birth or a rebirth.

In greekdom: As you pledge, you are (supposed to be) broken down before being rebuilt in a new identity. Even if you are not physically hazed, the goal is to bring you to a point of submission and melding.

As Believers: We are called to die unto ourselves. We are called to recognize our proclivity for sin and yield to Jesus Christ, fully. We are not to conform to the world.

•••

In greekdom: You are to adopt the values of your organization – which at face value may be moral enough. The issue comes in when you are led to view yourself as the top of the crop, seeking enlightenment in all areas. Members are to exude a great and elevated sense of pride.

As Believers: We are to repent. We are to adopt the teachings of Christ so that it becomes central in our life. We are to be “poor in spirit”; possessing an incredible humility. We are to know that God will reveal what we need, while remembering that our goal is to do His will, not to become Him.

•••

In greekdom: You make a covenant with your organization, and come into agreement with all of its parts. You participate in a ritual: kneeling at an altar, accepting an oath, praying to an entity. You receive admission and the social bonds and benefits that come along with membership.

As Believers: You yield to Jesus Christ, accepting Him as Lord and Savior, and are reconciled with God because of this. You receive the free gift of salvation through the New Covenant. Your blessing is both eternal and earthly. You anticipate a level of persecution when you speak of or do things that are righteous. You become concerned about your standing with God rather than your social acceptance.

•••

Once we come to Christ, He begins a work in us. Through the lifelong process of sanctification, we shed things over time. But God’s process is different than the world’s process.

When you are beat down to be built back up, it is an inversion of the born again process experienced in Christianity.

In Christ, we are not abused or belittled. We are not hurt or mistreated. And we are not condemned.

•••

“There is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) This refers to our salvation. We would have been subject to God’s wrath and condemnation if not for Jesus. But we are in Him, so we are saved. This is why we, as Christians, harp on the fact that there is freedom in Jesus.

You may not feel as though you’re in bondage as it relates to your organization, but the bondage runs deep. For your soul and for your mind.

•••

Lastly: You are given a new name when you cross. But, God renames His children. All throughout Scripture, God renames His own. And those of us who are in Christ are promised our new name in Heaven. (Revelation 2:17)

Break your false covenant.

Whatever you’re searching for can be found in Jesus. Friendship, comfort, an older sibling, purpose… it’s all there. He loves you so, so much and He will hold your hand when you decide to turn to Him. Here is a beautiful passage of Scripture for you:

Hebrews 2:2-3a We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?…

Hebrews 2:9-13 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 

Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

 He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”