Letters and Light: Leveraging BGLO Influence for Christ Without Compromise

Janet

Alright family, welcome back to the Sacred Greeks Podcast. I'm Janet, and I'm sittin’ here with my brother, Dr. Lyman Montgomery, ready to step on a few toes and love on some hearts at the same time. Today we talkin’ about letters… and the Lord.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Yes ma’am. And when we say letters, we’re talkin’ about Black Greek Letter Organizations—BGLOs—these fraternities and sororities that, for over a century, have shaped Black leadership, scholarship, and service, especially on college campuses.

Janet

Mmm-hmm. See, a lot of our folks don’t realize: these organizations came up in a time when we couldn’t just walk into any school or any boardroom and be taken seriously. So those letters became a covering, a kind of passport—helped open doors for education, careers, civil rights work, community programs… all of that.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Exactly. Chapters raised scholarship money when nobody else was investing in Black students. They organized voter drives, marched for justice, mentored kids in the neighborhood. So spiritually, that influence still matters. When you’re visible, when you’ve got respect on campus or in the community, you’ve also got a bigger platform for whatever message you carry.

Janet

Now this where it gets real. Because “crossing” into a BGLO—that’s a BIG deal culturally. You got the probate, the reveal, the line names, the songs. Folks crying, shoutin’, takin’ pictures, finally puttin’ those letters on their chest. It feels like identity, like family, like, “I made it.”

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

And I get that. I remember when I crossed into Phi Beta Sigma—there’s a sense of pride, accomplishment, belonging. But here’s the tension: as powerful as crossing is, it can’t compare to being “born again,” being transferred from darkness to light in Christ. One is social and historic; the other is eternal.

Janet

Say that again—eternal. See, your letters might change who answers your email, but only Jesus can change your destination. So we gotta ask: are my letters sitting on the throne of my heart? Or is my Savior?

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

The Bible’s clear about our first calling. Jesus says in Matthew 5:14–16, “You are the light of the world… a city set on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Notice, He doesn’t say, “Be light only if you’re not Greek.”

Janet

Come on. He doesn’t say, “Resign from everything and go sit in a cave.” He’s saying, “Wherever I plant you—on the yard, in the chapter meeting, at Homecoming—don’t hide. Shine.”

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

And 1 Peter 3:15 backs that up: “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you… with meekness and fear.” In Greek spaces, that means you don’t have to run from your fraternity or sorority; you’re called to be a thoughtful, respectful witness within it.

Janet

So when you put on your jacket, your jersey, that line shirt—you’re not just representin’ your founders. You representin’ Jesus. Your letters might get you in the room, but your light shows Who you belong to. And that’s where this whole series is goin’: not “Can I be Greek?” but “How do I be godly while I’m Greek?”

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

And that starts with putting the gospel over the culture, Christ over the crossing, and remembering: your ultimate pledge is to the King of Kings. The question is, how do we work that out in real chapter life? We’re gonna get into that next.

Janet

Alright, let’s talk about the messy middle—what it looks like day-to-day to follow Jesus and still be active in your chapter. I’m talkin’ language, parties, probates, group chats… all the places where your Christianity gets tested for real.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Yeah, because it’s one thing to say, “I’m a light.” It’s another thing when you’re at the party, the DJ’s playing something explicit, the drinks are flowing, and everybody’s watching to see if you’ll go along with the crowd.

Janet

Mmm. So let’s get practical. Bold, Christ-centered witness might look like: you’re at the party, but you’re sober, you’re respectful, you’re not grinding on everybody. Your speech is clean. You stepping in to shut down gossip or disrespect, not add to it.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Or in the group chat—y’all know those chats can get wild. You might be the person who doesn’t laugh at the degrading meme, doesn’t forward the sexual joke. Sometimes boldness is the quiet “no,” the boundary, not just preaching a sermon.

Janet

And then probates and step shows. I know that’s sacred ground for Greeks. Look, you can bring Christ into that without being weird. Pray over the event beforehand. Ask God for safety, unity, and an opportunity for folks to see something different in your line.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Absolutely. You can gather a few believing line brothers or sorors and say, “Before we go out there, let’s pray.” You’d be surprised who says yes in private even if they’d never admit in public they need prayer.

Janet

Start a weekly Bible study or prayer circle—could be two people, could be ten. Y’all meet after chapter, or on Zoom, just to get in the Word and check each other’s walk. You don’t have to announce it with a flyer; just start being intentional.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Sharing your testimony is another powerful tool. You don’t have to quote ten scriptures. You can say, “Hey, this is who I was before Christ, this is how He met me, and this is what’s changing in me now.” 1 Peter 3:15 again—be ready with a reason for your hope.

Janet

Now, let’s go where some of y’all been nervous—rituals, oaths, and idolatry. Some believers are like, “If there’s any ritual, it’s automatically demonic.” Others just shrug and never ask questions. Neither extreme is healthy.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Right. The Bible calls us to discernment. 1 John talks about testing the spirits. You examine: What am I saying with my mouth? What am I agreeing to with my heart? Does this conflict with Scripture’s call to worship God alone and make Christ my ultimate allegiance?

Janet

That means actually reading what you’re reciting, not just repeating after somebody in a dark room. If anything in a ritual or tradition pricks your spirit, pause. Pray. Seek wise counsel. You are never obligated to violate your conscience to fit in.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

And idolization can happen even without a ritual. If your letters define your worth, control your decisions, or make you ashamed to stand for Christ, that’s a heart issue. You can repent of that while remaining in the org, letting Jesus reorder your priorities.

Janet

So practically: set personal boundaries. Decide in advance what you will and will not participate in—certain chants, certain skits, certain parties. And when you need to say “no,” say it with love, not arrogance: “That goes against my convictions, but I still love y’all.”

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Bold witness isn’t about being the holier-than-thou Greek. It’s about consistently choosing Christ in your language, your events, your DMs, your decisions. That quiet consistency ends up speaking louder than any step show ever could.

Janet

Okay, we’ve talked about your personal walk inside the org. Now let’s zoom out. Because these letters carry influence—on campus, in cities, in career spaces. The question is: what are we doing with that influence for the Kingdom, not just the culture?

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Exactly. A lot of BGLOs are already heavy on service—adopt-a-school, food drives, mentoring, social justice work. Those are good things. But as believers, we don’t want to stop at “good deeds with no roots.” We want those works connected to the gospel, so people know Who motivates our serving.

Janet

So imagine this: your chapter does a back-to-school drive like always, but the planning team includes a few believers who say, “Let’s also offer a prayer table for families who want it,” or “Let’s partner with a local church that can follow up with these kids long-term.” Same event, different spiritual depth.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Or mental health initiatives—huge in our community right now. Y’all host a forum about anxiety, depression, and grief, but you frame it with the hope of Christ. You invite Christian counselors, campus ministers, maybe a pastor who understands trauma, and you’re honest about your own journey with God in those dark places.

Janet

And justice work—protests, town halls, student government, all that. You can show up as a Greek AND as a disciple. You advocate for policy change, but you also point to a deeper hope than any policy can give. You remind folks that true justice flows from the heart of God, not just from a bill being passed.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Partnership is key here. Your chapter doesn’t have to reinvent church; that’s what the church is for. But you can partner with healthy congregations. Maybe your frat sponsors a youth night at a local church. Maybe your sorority co-hosts a college-prep and prayer event for high schoolers, where the gospel is clearly shared.

Janet

And don’t sleep on mentoring younger Greeks. If you’re a seasoned member, you can grab that neophyte and say, “Look, I love this org—but I love Jesus more. Here’s how I’ve navigated that tension.” Walk with them. Pray with them before conferences, service days, even before they go to that party you know might get sticky.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

You can also be intentional about language when you serve. Instead of just “We give back because we’re great Greeks,” you say, “We serve because God has been generous to us.” You don’t force a sermon, but you refuse to erase the Source of the love you’re showing.

Janet

I wanna challenge y’all with a simple prayer. Not deep, not super churchy. Just: “Lord, how do You want to use my letters to lift Your name and transform my community?” That’s it. Ask Him about your chapter, your campus, your city council meetings, your alumni chapter meetings… all of it.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

And be ready for creative answers. He might nudge you to start a small prayer huddle before every service event. Or to suggest a joint project with another Christian org. Or to mentor just one student consistently instead of trying to change everything overnight.

Janet

Remember Matthew 5:14–16—we’re not hiding the light under a bushel, even a blue one or a dove one or a poodle one. Your letters are a tool, not your Lord. When they’re surrendered to Jesus, they become a spotlight pointing people back to Him.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

So don’t run from the influence God’s given you through your BGLO. Redeem it. Aim it. Let your service, your scholarship, your leadership be a living testimony that there is a Savior who changes hearts, not just resumes.

Janet

Alright, Dr. Montgomery, this has been rich. I hope somebody listening feels both convicted and encouraged—that you’re not stuck choosing between your letters and your Lord, but you are called to put your Lord FIRST over your letters.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Absolutely. And we’re gonna keep walking this out together in future episodes—more questions, more real talk, more Scripture. We’re in this journey with you.

Janet

So until next time, y’all keep shining, keep praying, and keep asking God how to be sacred in every space—even the Greek ones. Love y’all, and we’ll see you on the next Sacred Greeks Podcast.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Grace and peace, everyone. Take care.