Members of the religious community are becoming more vocal on issues which they deem blasphemous. Speaking on a regular Sunday morning programme presented as the Third Angel’s Message, the speaker was in-depth as he quoted scriptures that condemn the kind of behaviour that we just saw during the Carnival season. We also noticed that he was not alone as there were many people on the radio phone-in programmes condemning the very same thing. An interesting twist this year is that more men were complaining about the behaviour of the women who were masquerading in a sort of glorified nakedness through the streets. The men who called in, voiced their opinions as they expressed disgust at what they saw for Carnival.
After listening to the Third Angel’s Message, the question must be asked –must we embrace a particular way of life because it is labelled as cultural? There is also the need to examine just who are doing the labelling and even setting the standards for us to follow. The speaker said that if it’s not from a religious place it should not be embraced as the scripture is against every form of revelry which is the work of the flesh. While he did not name his bible of reference, some of the books he quoted from are Galatians, Isaiah, Proverbs and Ephesians, which he said were inspired by God. To condemn the drunkenness which is part of the Carnival festival, he quoted Isaiah chapter 5 verse 11 which says ‘woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drinks and continue until night until wine inflames him.’
The church Elder on the programme continuing in connection with the activities that surround Carnival celebration said that the masqueraders were fueled by alcohol consumption and the bible teaches that every drunkard will have his part in the lake of fire as stated in the scripture; we all know that without alcohol, Carnival will not be what it is. We know what happens when one is inflamed and drunken – he loses his power to make right decisions; he also loses his sound judgement and so we must be sober as the bible commands us and be vigilant and watchful. He touched on the bacchanal that Carnival brings which he said research has shown that it is the serving of Bacchus, the Greek god of wine. So this is the pagan part of Carnival that the religious leader condemns as he reminded the listeners that God in heaven said that we should worship no other gods besides Him. He strongly condemned associating Carnival with Emancipation as is done today, saying that festivities that are worshipped now were worshipped back then …that has nothing to do with emancipation it is just blindly put. But it is the worship of another god.
A lot of the same people that played Carnival are seen attending church on weekends, this the speaker condemns as ironical or hypocritical since the bible says that man cannot serve two masters as seen in the books of Matthew and Galatians. He used some strong words to describe the behaviour associated with Carnival – uncleanness, lasciviousness – a lot of lust is going on; idolatry because they are worshipping another God and such like which was fueled by alcohol consumption adding that when one is drunk he loses his sanity, his ability to think morally, to behave as a civil person –that is the fuel behind the revelry and madness that we recently saw. And added that one who will please God must be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The debate continues because even one religious leader came out publicly to express his tolerance for playing mas. So is drunkenness now part of the modern way of Christ?
On the other issue, but still with paganism, last month Bishop Devon Rachae from Agape Ministries shared that while spending time in reflection, he received word from the Lord that there is an urgent need to engage in spiritual warfare for our nation against satanic plans and demonic spirits seeking to take hold of our land. The one-time politician who has since started down the religious route was in the news this week condemning a sculpture which he sees as a strong “look-alike” to the Greek goddess – Medusa, who is seen as evil since she had the power to turn people into stone. He is warning against placing the sculpture in our waters. That figure is one of a few new ones that will be added to the Molinere under-water sculpture park. In explaining his concern, Bishop Rachae said that his understanding is that the under-water park is to represent Grenada’s culture especially for tourists to enjoy; and so he is questioning the relevance of that specific figure which to him is a pagan god. What is the origin of this image and how does it fit in our culture? He is calling on Grenadians to research the image which he believes is an insult to Christianity. There are spiritual implications for inclusion of goddesses and so forth as what we celebrate in terms of culture, he warns. The bishop believes that Grenada can be opening the flood gates to certain things that will be regretted in the long run.
In Greek mythology, Medusa is a female goddess with venomous snakes in her hair and those who gazed in her eyes would turn to stone.
Carnival and sculpture under religious magnifying glass
Members of the religious community are becoming more vocal on issues which they deem blasphemous. Speaking on a regular Sunday morning programme presented as the Third Angel’s Message, the speaker was in-depth as he quoted scriptures that condemn the kind of behaviour that we just saw during the Carnival season. We also noticed that he was not alone as there were many people on the radio phone-in programmes condemning the very same thing. An interesting twist this year is that more men were complaining about the behaviour of the women who were masquerading in a sort of glorified nakedness through the streets. The men who called in, voiced their opinions as they expressed disgust at what they saw for Carnival.
After listening to the Third Angel’s Message, the question must be asked –must we embrace a particular way of life because it is labelled as cultural? There is also the need to examine just who are doing the labelling and even setting the standards for us to follow. The speaker said that if it’s not from a religious place it should not be embraced as the scripture is against every form of revelry which is the work of the flesh. While he did not name his bible of reference, some of the books he quoted from are Galatians, Isaiah, Proverbs and Ephesians, which he said were inspired by God. To condemn the drunkenness which is part of the Carnival festival, he quoted Isaiah chapter 5 verse 11 which says ‘woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drinks and continue until night until wine inflames him.’
The church Elder on the programme continuing in connection with the activities that surround Carnival celebration said that the masqueraders were fueled by alcohol consumption and the bible teaches that every drunkard will have his part in the lake of fire as stated in the scripture; we all know that without alcohol, Carnival will not be what it is. We know what happens when one is inflamed and drunken – he loses his power to make right decisions; he also loses his sound judgement and so we must be sober as the bible commands us and be vigilant and watchful. He touched on the bacchanal that Carnival brings which he said research has shown that it is the serving of Bacchus, the Greek god of wine. So this is the pagan part of Carnival that the religious leader condemns as he reminded the listeners that God in heaven said that we should worship no other gods besides Him. He strongly condemned associating Carnival with Emancipation as is done today, saying that festivities that are worshipped now were worshipped back then …that has nothing to do with emancipation it is just blindly put. But it is the worship of another god.
A lot of the same people that played Carnival are seen attending church on weekends, this the speaker condemns as ironical or hypocritical since the bible says that man cannot serve two masters as seen in the books of Matthew and Galatians. He used some strong words to describe the behaviour associated with Carnival – uncleanness, lasciviousness – a lot of lust is going on; idolatry because they are worshipping another God and such like which was fueled by alcohol consumption adding that when one is drunk he loses his sanity, his ability to think morally, to behave as a civil person –that is the fuel behind the revelry and madness that we recently saw. And added that one who will please God must be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The debate continues because even one religious leader came out publicly to express his tolerance for playing mas. So is drunkenness now part of the modern way of Christ?
On the other issue, but still with paganism, last month Bishop Devon Rachae from Agape Ministries shared that while spending time in reflection, he received word from the Lord that there is an urgent need to engage in spiritual warfare for our nation against satanic plans and demonic spirits seeking to take hold of our land. The one-time politician who has since started down the religious route was in the news this week condemning a sculpture which he sees as a strong “look-alike” to the Greek goddess – Medusa, who is seen as evil since she had the power to turn people into stone. He is warning against placing the sculpture in our waters. That figure is one of a few new ones that will be added to the Molinere under-water sculpture park. In explaining his concern, Bishop Rachae said that his understanding is that the under-water park is to represent Grenada’s culture especially for tourists to enjoy; and so he is questioning the relevance of that specific figure which to him is a pagan god. What is the origin of this image and how does it fit in our culture? He is calling on Grenadians to research the image which he believes is an insult to Christianity. There are spiritual implications for inclusion of goddesses and so forth as what we celebrate in terms of culture, he warns. The bishop believes that Grenada can be opening the flood gates to certain things that will be regretted in the long run.
In Greek mythology, Medusa is a female goddess with venomous snakes in her hair and those who gazed in her eyes would turn to stone.
