so I went to a conference hosted by Intervarsity (national blanket Christian organization) and had a great conversation about Greek life

I met an incoming freshman at URI (University of Rhode Island) who approached me and asked me how I felt being Christian and Greek. I was beyond excited to have someone to talk to about it, considering earlier when I brought it up the woman running our seminar kind of dismissed the bonds of Greek life (if you’re not Greek, you probably don’t get it, but at least respect). 

It’s an important issue, though, for Christians who want to do more than just talk the talk, for those that truly wish to live out their faith. Greek life calls us to do great things — embrace leadership, build a loving community of sisterhood/brotherhood, serving our communities, etc — but it also calls us to be part of some not so great things. Party culture and university culture doesn’t leave a lot of room for a God-centered life. I’ve known Greeks who wore the badge of Christianity but continued to go out every night and get blackout drunk, who turned to drugs, who allowed their organization or their academics to be their identity when Christ calls us to something more. He calls us to keep our identity firmly rooted in CHim and be filled up not with alcohol, other substances, or societal quirks, but with the Spirit.

If you’re a Christian who is considering going Greek but you aren’t sure if it’s a place you should be because of your reputation, I urge you to think again. Because when it comes down to it, the core of Greek life isn’t party culture, and while there might be organizations out there that will try and force you to partake, there are more who will not. Not all of my sisters share my values, but they respect my desire to adhere to them and don’t condemn me for my faith or anything like that. Sometimes it won’t be easy to resist the temptations all college students feel, whether they are Greek or not, but it isn’t impossible either! Greek life isn’t for everyone, but it isn’t that way because of religion.Being Greek and living out your faith can go hand in hand, but only if you let them. 

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