Our culture or God’s?

Editor: Our society, like all others, is known for cultural elements which entice the mind and enliven the soul. These aid in shaping our thoughts and directing our actions. Some are not strictly marked by time, while others find their expression only at specific periods. Carnival is one such cultural expression which is indulged in at a certain season.{{more}}Carnival is characterized by much singing, dancing, costume wearing, drinking and other forms of celebration. These activities unite and identify, but are they acceptable in God’s eyes? Carnival is seated in national pride and serves as an important economic activity. It’s valuable to a people who profess great esteem for biblical principle, but does it have value in God’s eyes? Is it conforming to biblical culture? The Bible states in summary of our expected lives: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that it is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Yahshua (Jesus) Christ”– 1 Peter 1:13. God expects us in the closing scenes of this world’s existence to have sober minds and the hope of Christ’s return in our hearts, directing our choices.

Verse 16 of 1 Peter chapter one states that we must be holy in ALL manner of conduct because Yahweh (God) is holy. Bible culture demands from us fear (reverence) to God in everything we do. When most of the activities of Carnival are carefully examined, it can be seen that they do nothing for the spiritual man, covering the eyes from Christ and his coming. There are sexually connotative soca songs, vulgar dancing, immodest costumes and the triumph of drunkenness. It is indeed frightening that there is a created atmosphere, especially by soca artistes, which welcomes ill-behaviour and irreverence as glorious. The Bible says to “…abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” – 1Peter 2:11, but the spirit of Carnival is only shown to feed upon soul destructive lusts. Don’t they know that idolaters, drunkards and revellers shall not inherit the kingdom of God? (See Gal 5:20, 21). Hence, the counsel from the scripture is to separate yourselves from such activities. Despise them! Renounce them! Let God free you of their unholy influence and prepare yourselves for the second advent of Christ. This extravaganza, though it may be viewed to have socio-economic benefits to the country, only unreadies the soul for such a great glorious event. It is Vincentian culture, but not God’s. We ought to live by God’s grace, which hath appeared unto all men, “teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Yahshua (Jesus) Christ;”– Titus 2:12,13. Vincentians, if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve – whether through indulgence in Carnival you will serve the god of idolatry, or the god of drunkenness or the god of revelling in the land that you dwell “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”– Joshua 24:15.

Mbeki Swift