Mardi Gras: What should we know about it?
Having grown up in South Florida, I don’t even recall hearing about Mardi Gras until I moved to Mississippi for college. But I’ve learned that it is something celebrated around the world from France to the U.S. The event that is celebrated each year in New Orleans, Louisiana, involves extravagant costumes, large parades, and colorful masks. It has expanded to being celebrated beyond just one day to a whole season of partying. The name, Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. Most of the original customs associated with it are no longer observed. The practice of over-indulgence, however, is still a main part of it. Today, Mardi Gras is seen as a chance to go all out and party for four to eight weeks. In America, on Mardi Gras Day, outdoor celebrations normally last till midnight or later. The Day is known for its parades, green, purple and gold icing on king cakes with a plastic Jesus ornament within, and bead necklaces of green, purple, and gold to throw to the crowds from the decorated floats. Records indicate that the first of these celebrations in America took place March 3, 1699. What this event has become for many is a time when “religious” people consume as much alcohol as they want, eat as much rich and fatty foods as they want, and party as much as they want. It is then followed by a period of fasting that begins on the day after what is called Fat Tuesday. That Wednesday is called Ash Wednesday. “Clergymen” put ashes on the foreheads of church members as a sign of people’s “repentance.” “Lent” is the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. During this period, “religious” people endure what is called “penitential preparation” for Easter Sunday. People are told they should “get closer to God” and align their lives “more closely to that of Christ,” although most of them will do all this all over again the following year. To express penance and to “get closer to God,” they are told to pray, do penance [suffer and apologize for their sins], feel sorry for their sins and turn away from them [what they think of as repentance], give material goods and/or money to others, and temporarily deny themselves of certain things they enjoy. They are even told not to eat meat on Fridays during Lent [this period of fasting]. But what does the Bible tell us about all this? Here’s a sampling of what we are told.
1 Timothy 4:1-5
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits [fallen angels or demons], and doctrines of devils [DAIMON = demons];
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron [becoming insensitive to wrong-doing];
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats [BROMA = foods], which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. [Emphasis added]
Verse four sure seems clear to me. Unlike as it was for Israel in a former time, God has not given us ANY restrictions on the kind of food we are to consume. Those who want us to believe otherwise are clearly making false claims we should ignore. Mardi Gras hides behind the cloak of “religion,” wanting us to believe it is somehow a divinely authorized event. The demand is that people should observe it and fast afterward “like Jesus did” [Matthew 4:2; Luke 4:2]. The reality is that all this is nothing but an excuse for drunkenness, overeating, sexual immorality, and more. The partakers then go on a fast, thinking God will somehow be impressed. What spiritual blindness it all represents!
Fortunately, we have a gracious God who sent a Savior who paid the penalty for all these sins so that we might have the opportunity for salvation and securing a new home in Heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit [that is to say], that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
This is what complete reconciliation with God is all about. This is also what justification by faith is about. When someone accepts by faith what Christ did for them, justification, being judicially identified with the righteousness of Christ, and salvation is immediately provided.
Galatians 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ [speaking of His death, burial, and resurrection], even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [Emphasis added]
It is by Christ’s faith and His endurance on the cross that a way of salvation was provided and made available for us all.
Hebrews 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. [Emphasis added]
We now know through the writings of the apostle Paul that it is when faith is placed in this work of Christ, and not ours, salvation is graciously provided.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
So many people foolishly resist the fact that this is provided freely. Our only contribution to it is the sin that made it necessary.
Romans 3:24
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [Emphasis added]
It should be obvious to all that Mardi Gras provides what people think of as an excuse to sin. Decorative masks are often worn to hide their identity in the matter. Isn’t that the kind of thing we see Adam and Eve doing when they resided in the Garden of Eden?
Genesis 3:8
8 And they [Adam and Eve] heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. [Emphasis added]
Shame is always a part of the path in sinfulness. People can be fooled, but not God. He knows all we do or even think about doing.
Proverbs 5:21
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. [Emphasis added]
The fact that we are all prone by our still present old nature to sin doesn’t help the matter.
Jeremiah 17:9
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [Emphasis added]
Even the great apostle Paul acknowledged this concerning himself. We may wish to do the right thing, but there’s always our sinful nature pulling at us to do otherwise.
Romans 7:18-19
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will [the desire] is present with me; but how to perform [ongoing with perfect consistency] that which is good I find not.
There are many times when we fail, and never let some self-righteous people convince you that things are otherwise.
19 For the good that I would [THELO = wish or desire] I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. [Emphasis added]
In Paul’s Galatian letter, he gives us a one verse summary of what is found in Romans 7:14-24.
Galatians 5:17
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do [ongoing with perfect consistency] the things that ye would [THELO = desire or wish]. [Emphasis added]
When the Mardi Gras parades are over, the streets and sidewalks are covered with vomit from all the drunkenness as well as tons of garbage. Then there’s also all the sexual immorality that comes with this partying event. But thank you, Lord, for what we are told about the abundance of your grace! What a difference it makes!
Romans 5:20b
20bBut where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: [Emphasis added]
Forgiveness for such is certainly not deserved, but we are all the beneficiaries of God’s amazing grace. It is truly amazing how God continues to withhold His wrath. Nevertheless, judgment day is coming.
Romans 2:6
6 [Jesus Christ] Who will render to every man according to his deeds: [Emphasis added]
A time of judgment is coming for both believers and unbelievers. For us as believers, we need to always be mindful of the coming Judgment Seat of Christ. I have articles about God’s coming judgments on our website.
Rewards: For what will God wish to reward you in eternity?
Judgment: Who will be at the last one?
Judgment: How do I escape God’s wrath?
In the case of unbelievers, they should be afraid because of the coming Great White Throne Judgment. It will be there that they’ll be shown that their works were insufficient to provide them with salvation. From there they will be cast into the Lake of Fire to reside there forever.
Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him [Jesus Christ] that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Any and all works of theirs will be shown to be totally inadequate.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. [Emphasis added]
Throughout the Bible there are warnings about the consequences of rejecting God and His provision for salvation. For doing such there are serious consequences that last forever.
Galatians 6:7
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [Emphasis added]
There are also temporal consequences for sinful behavior in whatever form that may take.
Conclusion—
God is by no means opposed to celebrations and His people having a good time. But with events like Mardi Gras, it is all about what it represents along with the activities that tend to go along with it. We have many simple but important statements about such in Scripture. We need to always be mindful of them in our decision-making. Many statements come to mind.
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they [speaking of unbelievers] which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [Emphasis added]
We are clearly not to act like unbelievers in the things we choose to do.
Ephesians 5:18
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with [fully influenced by] the Spirit; [Emphasis added]
Titus 2:11-15
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope [the day we as believers get our resurrection body], and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ [at the Rapture];
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. [Emphasis added]
Other passages tell us more about the manner of life God intends for us.
Romans 6:12-13
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
We wouldn’t have to be given such commands if it was not possible for us as God’s people to do such things.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. [Emphasis added]
Yes, the decisions we make and the practices we engage in need to reflect our obedience to the commands we’ve been given. As believers and as the children of God [brethren], we’re to think like it and act like it. We are to yield the members [the parts] of our body to things that God has defined as righteous and godly. Would involvement in things like Mardi Gras enhance this? I think not! But there’s a real sense in which it is your life and your choice to make. God doesn’t force anyone to come to His way in their thinking. On the other hand, as a believer you now belong to God as one of His people. Therefore, again, you need to now learn how to think like it and act like it. Because of all the grace God has and will provide for you, you should be glad to do this. Please note the great apostle Paul’s words to us on this.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God [because of His many merciful expressions in our lives], that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Yes, under such circumstances, such is the only reasonable or rational thing for us to do.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Emphasis added]
