Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday,” is being celebrated today as a “Christian” holiday. According to tradition, the first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699 when French explorers landed near New Orleans, LA. This was a tradition that was incorporated into Roman Catholicism in answer to pagan celebrations (history.com). It is a day of partying and feasting on rich and fatty foods preceding Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent (literally meaning, “spring”) which is a period of fasting and penitence 40 days before Easter (Holman Bible Dictionary).
According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, “the first mention of a period of 40 days occurs in the Canons of Nicaea (AD 325) . . . and the number 40 was evidently suggested by the 40 days’ fasts of Moses, Elijah, and esp. the Lord Himself.” However, through the centuries, the strictness of the fast has been removed. Today, “Lent is generally observed as a time of penance by abstaining from festivities, by almsgiving, and by devoting more than usual time to religious exercises.” So, Mardi Gras is one final “celebration” before devoting oneself to more spiritual things.
Religiously, the responsibility of every person is to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 The. 5:21). “Proving” involves testing. So, every religious practice must be tested to try to determine the genuineness of it (Louw-Nida). This happens by gathering the evidence and correctly handling the evidence that is gathered. As far as observing Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, and the season of Lent is concerned, there is no command or example of such in the New Testament. Even though it has been observed that as early as the 2nd century Christians were fasting several days before the Passover time of year, there is still nothing that God has bound relative to this observance. Jesus mentioned fasting that could be done “in secret” (Mat. 6:18) and the early church fasted before important events (Acts 13:2,3; 14:23). Never was it commanded to observe a 40-day season of “Lent” or fasting.
It is important to note that it was prophesied that some would “depart from the faith” (1 Tim. 4:1) and a “falling away” would occur (2 The. 2:3). In his book, The Eternal Kingdom, F.W. Mattox recorded, “During the first fifty years after the death of the Apostle John, the church struggled to maintain Apostolic purity” (p.107). The first change that took place had to do with the authority of elders, which evolved into a one man “bishop” system and by 150 AD there is evidence that a “clergy” system was already being developed (p. 111). These changes, along with many more, would ultimately shape the Catholic Church allowing for decrees (like Mardi Gras and Lent) to be implemented into “Christian Law.” Remember, all that is commanded must be done by the Lord’s authority (Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 14:37). Let each of us make sure that we are not going beyond what is written (1 Cor. 4:6; 2 John 9).
Derrick Coble
According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, “the first mention of a period of 40 days occurs in the Canons of Nicaea (AD 325) . . . and the number 40 was evidently suggested by the 40 days’ fasts of Moses, Elijah, and esp. the Lord Himself.” However, through the centuries, the strictness of the fast has been removed. Today, “Lent is generally observed as a time of penance by abstaining from festivities, by almsgiving, and by devoting more than usual time to religious exercises.” So, Mardi Gras is one final “celebration” before devoting oneself to more spiritual things.
Religiously, the responsibility of every person is to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 The. 5:21). “Proving” involves testing. So, every religious practice must be tested to try to determine the genuineness of it (Louw-Nida). This happens by gathering the evidence and correctly handling the evidence that is gathered. As far as observing Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, and the season of Lent is concerned, there is no command or example of such in the New Testament. Even though it has been observed that as early as the 2nd century Christians were fasting several days before the Passover time of year, there is still nothing that God has bound relative to this observance. Jesus mentioned fasting that could be done “in secret” (Mat. 6:18) and the early church fasted before important events (Acts 13:2,3; 14:23). Never was it commanded to observe a 40-day season of “Lent” or fasting.
It is important to note that it was prophesied that some would “depart from the faith” (1 Tim. 4:1) and a “falling away” would occur (2 The. 2:3). In his book, The Eternal Kingdom, F.W. Mattox recorded, “During the first fifty years after the death of the Apostle John, the church struggled to maintain Apostolic purity” (p.107). The first change that took place had to do with the authority of elders, which evolved into a one man “bishop” system and by 150 AD there is evidence that a “clergy” system was already being developed (p. 111). These changes, along with many more, would ultimately shape the Catholic Church allowing for decrees (like Mardi Gras and Lent) to be implemented into “Christian Law.” Remember, all that is commanded must be done by the Lord’s authority (Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 14:37). Let each of us make sure that we are not going beyond what is written (1 Cor. 4:6; 2 John 9).
Derrick Coble