ambassadors for the risen Christ ministries

by Shawn Brasseaux

While I seek not to attack anyone, it would be wrong for me to say nothing about this matter. I write to you as a friend, in meekness and sincerity. I do not condemn anyone; I just want to show you what the Bible says! What I say or what anyone else says does not matter. Some may be offended by this study, so I am prepared to get a lot of flak and nasty comments.

Local media here in Acadiana (central Louisiana) are heralding the Mardi Gras season as godly and newsworthy. For those who are unfamiliar with this pagan festival, Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday.” Prior to the 40 days while fasting during Lent, Roman Catholics celebrate this tradition—this is a dangerous word that has led many people astray spiritually! The sad reality is that these people are told they can sin all they want Tuesday, and have the guarantee of Ash Wednesday the following day (repent, confess to a priest who places ashes on their foreheads and impart the forgiveness of “God”). That is down right blasphemous! It is a miracle God’s grace has lasted this long! In Romans 6:1,2, the Apostle Paul instructed us never to take advantage of grace.

Oftentimes, when “Mardi Gras” is mentioned, you will also hear the term “revelry.” People who participate in this festival proudly admit to be “Mardi Gras revelers!” Drunkenness, lewdness, fornication, crimes, and all sorts of other fleshly activities abound in these Mardi Gras parades. There is no shame in what they do, but what does God say about this? Does no one know what the Scriptures say about revelry?

Galatians 5:19-21 KJV says:

“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, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Now, what is the meaning of the Greek word translated “revelings” in verse 21? It means “letting loose”: reveling is “a carousal, a noisy riotous drinking party.” That same word “revelings” is found in 1 Peter 4:3; the Apostle Peter also instructed his Jewish readers not to engage in “revelings.” So, here we have people claiming to be followers of Christ, yet they are ignoring what God says! That makes no sense.

Now, we turn to another Scripture. Let us see Romans 13:12-14 KJV:

“12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light;
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness [sexual immorality, promiscuity], not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

According to God’s Word, are these Mardi Gras revelers honoring God or are they “fulfilling the lusts of the flesh?” NO!

All of this gross sin is veiled under the cloak of religion! These people claim to be associated God, but spit in His face. Oh, they have their king cake—claiming to have a plastic Baby Jesus hidden away inside this dessert. Absolutely false, complete “hogwash” as we call “foolishness” in the South.

The Mardi Gras colors are green (faith), purple (justice), and gold (power). The irony is that there is no Biblical faith here (God’s Word forbids their activity, but they do it anyway; they don’t believe a word God says). There is no justice, as they mock God with their carousing—that will change one day.

You may be a believer today, unaware of what Mardi Gras is all about. Do research, and see if what I say is true. Is it worth going to a silly parade for one day, and bring reproach to the name of the Lord, the one who “loved you, and gave Himself for you?”