Tomorrow is “Mardi Gras”, and I thought it was important to share this article from CCW.
Here’s the Skinny on “Fat Tuesday”
by Daryl Wingerd
Fat Tuesday is another name for Mardis Gras, the raucous annual parade and party held in the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana. The tradition is many centuries old and was originally known as Carnival. It is held in various places around the world under different names. Mardis Gras (or Fat Tuesday) is the American version.
Carnival comes from a combination of Latin words meaning “farewell to the flesh.” There is a great deal of irony in that name because Fat Tuesday is by no means a time when the desires of the flesh are denied or bid farewell. Instead they are lavishly indulged. Anything goes—gluttonous eating, massive consumption of alcohol, even public displays of sexual immorality (to say nothing of what goes on behind closed doors). The streets, sidewalks, shops, and hotels on Bourbon Street in New Orleans are indeed X-rated during this festival of debauchery.
So why the name “farewell to the flesh”? Why not name it for what it really is? Fat Tuesday is known as the farewell to the flesh because Fat Tuesday precedes Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Lent is a 40-day period of self-denial and repentance, instituted by some in the early church as a way of preparing Christians for Easter.
Those who are sinfully self-indulgent during Mardis Gras in preparation for the self-denial during Lent may be likened to a camel preparing to cross a long stretch of waterless desert. The camel drinks deeply of that which will satisfy its thirst, not only for the moment, but also for the next days and weeks. Likewise, Fat Tuesday revelers drink deeply of that for which they truly thirst—the lusts of the flesh—in preparation for lean times when sinful behavior will not be as socially acceptable.
The real tragedy of Fat Tuesday is the way “the church” has historically responded to it. Fat Tuesday has also been called Shrove Tuesday. The word “shrove” is derived from the Latin scribere, meaning, “to prescribe penance.” During the middle ages, religious leaders would ensure that “shriveners” (priests) were available to hear the confessions of the multitudes of presumptuous sinners who had committed all types of iniquity during Carnival.
The job of the priest was not to call these people to a deep and true repentance, but rather to prepare them ceremonially for Lent. In other words: Have your fun! Drink as deeply as you need of the lusts of the flesh! Just be sure to confess your sins to the priest before Lent. The priest who hears your confession will prescribe fasting and the right sort of penance (self-inflicted penalty) for you to make amends with God. This was (and still is) the view of many within the Roman Catholic system regarding presumptuous sin, confession, and penance. But what is the true Christian view of a day like Fat Tuesday?
The Apostle Paul tells us as Christians that “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:3) But notice the past tense in Paul’s reminder—”had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh.” In another place, describing the current mindset of a true Christian, Paul asks, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2) To the Corinthians Paul wrote about the way they were before becoming Christians:
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
True Christians are not perfect. They can and do sin. But they no longer thirst after sin. Sin is no longer where they find satisfaction. A true believer would never consider intentionally storing up the pleasures of sinful indulgence on Fat Tuesday in order to prepare for a “drought” of religiously imposed self-righteousness—fasting and penance during Lent. True Christians always “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matthew 5:6), “hating even the garment stained by the flesh” (Jude 23).
The one who says he knows Christ yet thirsts after and willfully engages in sin, whether daily in private or annually in the great public orgy known as Fat Tuesday, “is a liar and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). And the priest or religious leader who affirms a person in such behavior by assuring him that external acts of confession and penance will make him right with God, is participating in one of the devil’s most clever schemes.
The Christian who really is a Christian prays to God from the heart, “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me:” (Psalms 19:13)
We’re also facing the time of Carneval and all it’s evils. Sad to say some of the Cosh villagers have spent time out in the city since the politics have come into their lives and so have brought back some of these ideas into the village here so there will be people out slinging mud etc on everyone (having fun)!! I don’t know just what all they’ve learned to do but I’m sure we will find out. They know we don’t do it and don’t go along with it so I hope they won’t come into our houses with this foolishness. I really know just how far they are into this and what to expect from them but we can only teach the Christians that it is not part of the Christian life. They are being faced with so much “civilization” too soon. –
A well timed article. Karnaval, as it’s written in Creole is the country’s biggest celebration. Schools promote it as a national celebration and encourage the children to be a part of the festivities. It is a part of fabric of society of Haiti. Men complain that they lose their wives for 3 days. The revelry begins on the weekend and ends Wednesday morning. All the national television stations show the activities of celebration throughout the nation’s cities. The government spends thousands of dollars for bands to play Kompa music tens of thousands of people congregate to dance, drink, and fulfill their desires. Many people die or are injured during this time.
True believers have nothing to do with it which merits applause as they are breaking from cultural tradition for the culture of God. They often go to some location as a church for a retreat. Other churches plan training sessions and activities that provide edification for the believers and those seeking a refuge from the riffraff of the day. As Peter said, “…for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Ga 1:10 There is a remnant here in Haiti!