This comes via the website http://www.exposingsatanism.org and is from a tract by  Last Call Ministries in Shreveport, LA. They may be contacted at P.O. Box 4203, Shreveport, La 71134

Mardi Gras! The word conjures up all sorts of images in the mind. We think of parades, floats, masquerades, balls, beads, doubloons, parties, king cake and revelry. New Orleans Promises it as “the greatest free show on earth”, and it is considered by most to be a time of good wholesome fun.  

Pre- Christian Origin

Spring time pagan celebrations are the roots of the modern day Mardi Gras. Ancient Greek and Roman festivals involved sacrifice, drunkenness, lewdness, immoral sex and revelry. In the parade of the pagans, false gods are worshiped by exalting an image above the assembly. Pagan priests accompanied by the idol, shower the crowds with spring flowers, herbs, grain and coins. Both good fortunes, spells, and curses were shouted, including the calls to the idol god to grant favor and blessings.

On example of the gods is Pan. He is represented by a half animal, half man incarnation. He represents wanton lust and crudeness. In The Roman celebration “lupercalia” a fertility festival, the worship of Lupercus involved cross dressing and masquerading to promote sexual orgies.  Today the celebration of Centaur exalts the same spirit of revelry and wanton abandonment, drunkenness, homosexuality, nudity and brawling all still exist today.

What was once deplored by the church is now accepted. A blend of pagan rites , animism and church religion exist today.  In an attempt to convert the masses the church, the Catholic church, fixed the celebrated resurrection of Jesus (Easter) around the astrological event that “spring rites” celebrate. (the full moon of the spring equinox).  The fixing of Easter allows the unscriptural religious celebration of Lent and ash Wednesday to follow Mardi Gras.  Instead of resisting the ways of the pagans, The “church”  absorbed many of these festivals in hopes that it would convert the pagans. What we have today is a churchy world and a worldly church!!!  In French, Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday. This is  a day to gorge and over indulge oneself before the seasonal religious practice of fasting, abstinence and denial. It is not surprising that the symbol for Mardi Gras is the “Bouef Gras”…… The fatten bull

Idolatry

The bull is the old testament symbol of Baal. 1st Kings 12:28 —- 19:18  Exodus 32.   Baal the bull is symbolic of strength and fertility. God condemns the production and worship of idols. Yet many in the church do just that, worship idols.  Exodus 23:13  ” And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.” Steeped in Egyptian, Grecian, and Roman fertility rites. Half of the parades celebrate and honor false gods. The rest promote sex and drunkenness.

Exodus 34:13-17   But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:  Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;  And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods. Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.
Can we claim his lordship and still be involved in this demonized activity?  It is the same spirit that has contended against God for the souls of man since we were created. That same spirit,Satan, works to turn man away from Holy God, and towards these false gods. 

1st Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.                           

John I 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 

Revelation 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Scriptures that deal with these false gods:

Dianna  Acts 19:24-29  Hermes and Zeus  Acts 14:12  Aphrodite, Venus, Istar Judges 2:13 & 10:6

It is hypocritical to instruct Christ centered living to include pagan rituals. Christians who participate in Mardi Gras, fellowship with unbelievers and promote Godlessness, blessing every evil that opposes the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!  Humanism and universalism have a big time when Mardi Gras comes to town. 

Corinthians II 6:16-18  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 

Christians should have nothing to do with evil 

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate

John I 2:15-16  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

Ephesians 5:11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.