Sacred, Not Sinful Why This Conversation Matters

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Welcome to The Sacred Greeks Podcast—where faith meets fraternity, and purpose meets power. I'm Dr. Lyman Montgomery, and let me just tell you, this conversation is long overdue. Zelma, you know, folks have been asking me since I crossed—can you truly follow Christ and also love your Greek letters? Or is it like, either-or, gotta pick a side?

24d1103e

Dr. Montgomery, you are hittin' on something so real! I remember when I pledged Zeta at Spelman—child, it felt like every other Sunday somebody was whisperin' about whether it was ‘holy’ to wear those blue and white shirts or if I needed to just hide ‘em altogether. And, let me be honest, sometimes you just wanna celebrate with your sorors and serve your God, without all the finger-pointin’ or worryin’ you’re doin’ something wrong.

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Exactly, Zelma! I mean, there’s this tension—church folks telling you to renounce, campus folks sayin’ to be quiet about your faith. And in the middle you feel just, well, kinda stuck, almost invisible. Look, this isn’t about throwing shade or condemnation. As a young Greek at Ohio U, I remember folks coming up to me, saying, “Brother Montgomery, how can you be in a fraternity and be a Christian?”—like it’s an impossible equation. But that’s the very reason why we need this space for clarity, for discipleship, not division.

24d1103e

Yes! And it’s like Jesus said, in John 17—where He’s praying for us to be in the world, but not of it. I always come back to that, ‘cause it tells me we aren’t supposed to disappear or hide away. We’re sent out. That includes our sororities, fraternities—that’s our mission field, too, isn’t it?

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You got it. Our Greek life isn’t, you know, this dark corner where we gotta leave our faith at the door. We’re called to be salt and light. Christ didn’t say, “Father, get them outta here.” He said, “Keep them safe, sanctified—I’m sending them right in.” That’s what we’re about here on Sacred Greeks. All right, we’re just getting started.

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Let me take you back—March 9, 1988, Ohio University. That’s when I crossed into Phi Beta Sigma. I still remember the rush, the sense of pride, standing with my new brothers. But soon as the hype died down, I wrestled. Would pledging mean I was somehow turning my back on my faith?

24d1103e

Now see, I relate to that inner struggle. It’s like your heart’s pulled in two directions: you love your letters, but you love the Lord even more. And people got all kinds of ideas about what BGLOs are or aren’t. Sometimes, folks even say we’re dabbling in, um, ‘demonic stuff’ just ‘cause of the history or Greek names. I mean, it’s a lot.

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Absolutely, Zelma, and I heard all those same things. But you know what I found in my chapter? Brotherhood. Scholarship. Service. These were the core values—none of that was anti-Christ. In fact, when I read scripture, I saw our founding ideals lining up with Kingdom virtues. Somewhere along the way, I realized what’s meant for bondage, God can redeem for His glory.

24d1103e

Ooh, that right there—that redemption, that’s the key. I’ve seen sisters host Bible studies in the soror house, or organize service projects that were really about sharing God’s love, not just clocking volunteer hours. It doesn’t always have to be a split. Christian Greeks can reclaim those spaces—we got examples all over the place.

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We do! I’ll never forget one year, my chapter presidents let me open our events with prayer. That little shift—just opening the door to God—changed the culture. I’ve seen believers lead food drives, create prayer circles, even see people come to Christ because somebody was brave enough to stand up inside their fraternity or sorority. Family, your letters are not a prison—they can be a platform. It’s about dedication, and letting the Lord use you where you are.

24d1103e

That’s the assignment, isn’t it? You’re not called to blend in, but you’re not called to run away, either. There’s room for your faith and your Greek pride to work together, for real. And that gets me, sometimes, because we just need more testimonies, stories of folks who did exactly that—flipped the script and made their organization better for it.

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Amen to that! And I want our listeners to know, if you’re feeling that tension—don’t write yourself off. God’s not done with you. In fact, He’s just getting started.

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Now—let’s dig into one of my favorite scriptures for this moment: Acts 1:8. “You will be my witnesses…”—not just in the temple or the pulpit, but everywhere: on your campus, in your monthly meeting, in the cab of your car ride to the step show. Greeks are natural leaders, right? The Divine Nine is built on visibility and influence.

24d1103e

Whew, witness anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes I think, what if that next community service event—painting that rec center or that late-night study session—what if that’s where God’s placed you on purpose? Not just to show up, but to show off His love. Like, what if your chapter house became the spot where prayer happens and hope breaks out?

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That’s exactly it. I remember one year, leading my Sigma chapter in what we thought was just, you know, another service project—helping out at a local shelter. But in the middle of it, one of my brothers broke down, asked for prayer right there in front of everybody. That moment turned the whole event into ministry. It wasn’t just a box to check—it became Kingdom work, right where we least expected.

24d1103e

That’s beautiful, Dr. Montgomery. And it makes me wanna challenge folks—don’t just see yourself as a member, see yourself as a missionary. So, family, if you’re listening, I want you to dream a little bigger. What could happen if Greek events, even meetings, became assignments from God for you to share your testimony, to plant seeds, to just be that steady light others notice?

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I love that. Let’s all start asking, “Lord, how can I use my platform in my Greek org for Your purpose?” If your meeting becomes a ministry, your letters shine for the Kingdom. We’ll unpack more of this in the next episodes—and family, I wanna hear from you. What’s the toughest question you’ve faced about being both a Christian and a Greek? DM us, shoot an email, or drop your thoughts in the comments. You might hear your question tackled right here in a future episode.

24d1103e

That’s the invitation, y’all. Sacred Greeks is just getting started. Next time, Dr. Montgomery, we’re diving into one of the toughest, most debated topics—do you denounce, renounce, or redeem your letters as a believer? Don’t miss it.

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Thank you, Zelma. And thank you, family, for joining us. Remember—your letters don’t define your salvation, but they sure can amplify your testimony. Let me close us in prayer. Father, thank You for placing us in these spaces of influence. Strengthen us to shine boldly for You in our organizations, families, and communities. May our lives reflect Your light, and may our letters become a witness to Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Zelma, thank you for sharing today—and to everyone listening, catch us next time on The Sacred Greeks Podcast. God bless, family.

24d1103e

Amen to that, Dr. Montgomery. This was beautiful. Can’t wait to be back with you—and all our listeners—next week. Take care, everybody.