Mardi Gras

For several years while Harold and I were in the RV business, we kept very busy traveling. Typically we would buy one-way flights once or twice a month to go buy motorhomes at various locations, then drive them back home to Texas to sell. We traveled all over the United States, but the road between Texas and Florida was our most traveled route. We’d often stop for the night in Mississippi or Louisiana on our way home to Texas, as either state was a good halfway stopping point.

Anytime we traveled in the first quarter of the year, no matter where we stopped in the Mississippi or Louisiana area, we’d find ourselves engulfed in a sea of purple, green, and gold Mardi Gras décor. The colors were vivid, and eye-catching, but what I found strange was that they also decorated Christmas trees. The same trees that held Christmas ornaments in December were decorated with Mardi Gras ornaments, signs, and ribbons in January, February, and sometimes March.

So one day I decided to look into this and did an internet search. I learned that the Mardi Gras tradition dates back well over 2,000 years to the pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, which included raucous Roman festivals. When Christianity arrived in Rome, the religious leaders (Catholicism) decided to incorporate these popular local pagan traditions into their religion, which apparently was an easier task than abolishing them altogether. As a result, the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of fasting and penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Initially, I found the merger somewhat interesting, but the more I read, the more disturbing I found it.

Growing up attending a Methodist church, I was somewhat familiar with Ash Wednesday and Lent. However, years later, after I actually came into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, I noticed the Baptist church I attended didn’t speak about Ash Wednesday or Lent. It was then I learned that the practices of Ash Wednesday and Lent were actually man-made traditions primarily found in the Catholic Church, and a few Protestant denominations such as the Methodist Church. A few years later I learned that penance is a Catholic sacrament and even though it may sound similar to repentance it’s not the same thing.

Repentance is a change of mind: turning away from sin and turning to God. Repentance (of sin) and faith (in Christ) are commonly referred to as two sides of the same coin. Repentance not only precedes salvation but is an ongoing daily practice for believers in Christ.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Penance is a Catholic sacrament in which an external action or form of discipline is performed to show sorrow for sin. Generally, penance takes the form of praying certain prayers a specified number of times, fasting, or spending time in front of an altar. This is unbiblical. Nowhere does Scripture teach that performing works or the act of punishing oneself can make restitution for sin.

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Now I realize that Mardi Gras has long been considered a colorful cultural tradition for many of those raised in the South. The colors, the cakes, the parades, and social gatherings have become an enduring Southern tradition that many people have enjoyed since childhood. And while it’s not my intent to offend anyone, I do want to try to convey a biblical perspective here. So I have to say that I find the excess, debauchery, drunkenness, and such as what goes on in New Orleans and elsewhere in the name of Mardi Gras, including Fat Tuesday, sickening. People overindulging, sinning egregiously, and doing so publicly; supposedly getting the sin out of their system before they start trying to be “good” again. The Bible specifically reminds us, “No one is good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10), and one doesn’t become “good” by performing any kind of man-made tradition. Sin is a serious matter that is offensive to God and should never be celebrated in parades.

“Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.” Romans 6:13

The truth is we’re all sinners who fall short of the glory of God. It’s only when we repent of our sins and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and the finished work He did on the cross that He covers us with His righteousness.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

The idea that Mardi Gras evolved from the mixing of raucous pagan festivals, the Catholic Church, and man-made traditions with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ doesn’t sit well with me. Let alone the fact that these increasingly lewd and indignant Mardi Gras celebrations have been going on for so many years, and as a form of entertainment no less. And while I suspect many non-believers participate in Mardi Gras festivities and are just there for the party, what about those who participate in Mardi Gras festivities who claim to be Christian? Do you not realize you are mocking Christ and His finished work on the cross? Christ did not die for your sins so that you could celebrate them in Mardi Gras parades and parties. Nor did Christ die on the cross for your sins so that you could sin all you want and assume all is good as long as you can go do some penance.

Repent and trust in Christ alone.

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.’”Jeremiah 21:8