Endless Partying

Worldwide, Mardi Gras (or Carnival) is known as a time for a “no-holds barred” celebration in the spirit of utter abandonment. It is seen as a time to have fun, to cut loose, to “throw down,” to “party till you drop,” to “let the good times roll.”

On Fat Tuesday, revelers in New Orleans jam the streets with non-stop partying. The atmosphere is charged with drunkenness and unbridled sexual activity and perversion. In the French Quarter, homosexuals have costume contests before audiences of thousands. Women lean over balconies and openly expose themselves to anyone who will give beads to them. The practice of revelers engaging in sex with strangers is common. Bourbon Street is the focus of activity because of the numerous music clubs, strip clubs and bars found there. After the festival ends, city streets are so filthy that the following day is jokingly referred to as “Trash Wednesday,” instead of Ash Wednesday.

Despite Hurricane Katrina’s devastating effects, plans were underway for another celebration. As one resident said, “We’ve got to have this party” (USA Today).

Another said, “We owe it to our ancestors and our children to keep this celebration going. We just can’t stop. This is so important for us” (Reuters).

Is This Real Fun?
In light of its sordid origin, should Mardi Gras still be viewed as harmless fun? Does God allow Christians to cast off all restraint and participate in its festivities—drunkenness, lewdness, public nudity, homosexuality, illicit sex, revelry and brawling—which He calls “the works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21)?

Mardi Gras represents a blend of religion and immorality, steeped in ancient pagan fertility rites. Many of the parades celebrate and honor false gods such as Bacchus and Venus; others promote fornication and drunkenness—conduct that ends marriages, breaks up families and destroys lives! Professing Christians should take heed: Drunkenness, fornication and such reveling are among the kinds of conduct that exclude one from inheriting the kingdom of God (I Cor. 6:9-10).

It is hypocritical for anyone who claims to seek or serve the true God to participate in a festival that originates from paganism and promotes immoral behavior. Not only should Christians not participate in evil, God commands them to avoid even the appearance of evil (I Thes. 5:22). This certainly applies to Mardi Gras.

What about Lent? As noted earlier, the Catholic Church incorporated the 40-day fast that the pagans had been observing and renamed it Lent. This, too, is an unscriptural custom, and should be avoided by anyone striving to obey God. (Read our article “The True Meaning of Lent” to learn more.)

Any festival or religious observance of pagan origin is unacceptable to God, the “Lord” of the Old Testament (Deut. 12:29-32)—the same Being who later became Jesus Christ (I Cor. 10:1-4).

Live the Abundant Life!
Are those who participate in the wanton revelry of Mardi Gras truly happy? After the partying is over, they must return home and face their problems. Mardi Gras is simply a temporary diversion; it does not take away their troubles. And then there are the additional problems that result from foolish and immoral behavior. Remember: For every cause, there is an effect.

True happiness does not come from unrestrained partying, but from focusing on the interests, cares and concerns of others (Phil. 2:4). True love is showing sincere outgoing concern for others, which is accomplished by serving others. Serving other people brings true and lasting happiness.

At Mardi Gras, people focus on fulfilling their own desires, their own fleshly gratification—lusts. They are concerned with their own pleasure—not the needs of others. That is why so many live such miserable lives—because they are focused on themselves, their needs, their wants.

God shows us the true way to abundant living (John 10:10). His Way produces real joy, peace of mind, prosperity, and all the good things of life. That life can be yours! To learn how, read our article “You Can Live the Abundant Life!”