Fri, Jun 06, 2014

Editor: Scantily dressed young ladies parading the stages, half naked men, women and children masquerading the streets, revealing costumes, sexually suggestive songs, drunkenness…that are common around this time of the year are often accepted under the garb of “culture” and “artistic expression.” However, this revelry is not the culture of heaven. It is not the culture God accepts and is pleased with. In fact, the Bible condemns it, telling us that they which partake of such things – “…drunkenness, revelling …shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).{{more}}

Although many would chastise me for saying that Carnival is not of God, the truth is written in the scriptures. We are warned against living in “lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelling, banqueting, and abominable idolatries”(1Peter 4:3) After indulging in this bacchanal activity for years, many of you have come to accept it as good and acceptable “culture”. Some of you even try to take our minds away from the lewdness and immorality by urging us to “look at the costumes, creative art, skill.” The question is: is the skill being used to the glory of God? Or is it used to help to promote lewdness and self glory? Even more saddening is the increased participation of our young children. Parents, why should you expose your children’s nakedness to the world? Many children, with the encouragement of parents, can hardly speak, but can be heard singing the smutty songs. Some of them even attend late night shows with their parents/guardians. Then we wonder why children have so much vice!

Young men and young women who love your partying – “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,” who justify your bad behaviour under the name of culture, don’t be fooled. Be honest. Would you like Christ to come and meet you “enjoying” Carnival?

If you really want true lasting pleasure, give your heart to Your Creator. Allow Him to change you and make you beautiful in character – fit for His service and for His heavenly garner. Solomon, when he forsook God, partook of every sinful pleasure you could imagine. He later “came back to his senses,” being converted to God, and tells us that “all is vanity.” He instructs us that “…the conclusion of the whole matter is to fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Solomon understood that worldly pleasures are temporary. They leave you unsatisfied. In speaking about God, who is able to wholly satisfy each heart, David tells us that “… in thy(God’s) presence is fullness of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore…” So, you desire lasting pleasure? Learn about your Saviour. He guarantees that your soul would be fully satisfied. He would fill you with His love and joy. Your soul would never lack happiness.

I know that Carnival promoters and revellers would not want me to speak against Carnival, but I implore you to reject such sinful pleasures and accept Jesus Christ to make you sin-free right now. Only Christ in your heart would prepare you for the soon coming destruction. Forsake the Carnival riotous behaviour. Don’t disqualify yourself from entering heaven by revelling, which is named among the “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5:21.

Ann-Marie Ballantyne

svgpatriot@hotmail.com