MARDI GRAS

Did you see the news reports of the drunken revelers celebrating Mardi Gras?  Along with the drunken and immoral debauchery there was violence, rioting, vandalism and looting.  An editor for the Wall Street Journal wondered if the vandals, "actually understand why we celebrate Mardi Gras?" The writer goes on to say "These festivities were meant to be preparation for the Christian season of Lent...Lent is a period of general fasting in recollection of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert resisting temptation.  People would forego many pleasures during Lent: liquor or wine, meant, eggs and dairy products, sweets or sex..."

Since the New Testament says nothing of Mardi Gras, one must look elsewhere for its origin. The New Britannica says, "It possibly has its roots in a primitive festival honoring the beginning of the new year and the rebirth of nature, though it is also possible that the beginning of carnival in Italy many be linked to the pagan Saturnalia festival of ancient Rome." (15th Ed., Vol.  2:881).  Thus we see that this indulgent celebration was derived from paganism.  It was tolerated in a worldly church that had lost its will to stand against the sinful world.  The logic was that people would not come into the church if they were expected to give up such popular traditions.

The Bible condemns such festivities in verses such as the following: "Be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot..." (Eph. 5:18); "Let us walk becomingly... not in reveling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness..." (Rom. 13:13). While in days past we may have indulged in "lasciviousness, lusts, winebibing, reveling, carousings" sinful neighbors will "think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot..." (I Pet. 4:3-4).  God's grace instructs us that we should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and "live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world..." (Tit. 2:11-12).

Being a Christian means devoting our lives to Christ, living his life-style and worshiping according to His will every day of the year.  That commitment will compel us to reject such practices as Mardi Gras.