6 REASONS WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD HATE CARNIVAL

1. It is spiritually damaging. Carnival is a feast of carnality. Sensuality is extolled in the streets and sexual immorality is practiced in the salons. The Christian is the one who has crucified carnality with its passions and desires (Gl 5.24), flees from sexual sins (2 Tm 2.22) and, clothed in Christ, no longer feeds his flesh (Rm 13.13,14). In this sense, there is nothing more harmful to sanctification than Carnival.

2. It is culturally poor. The musical culture in Brazil has not been going well for a long time, however, during Carnival it gets worse. The marchinhas with a double meaning, with a sexual connotation, are proof of that. Carnavalescos even try to put a bit of Brazilian history in the lyrics of the songs, to give an impression of high culture, but the result is pathetic: excerpts from our history accompanied by drums and naked women.

3. It is patriotically disastrous. Unfortunately, around the world, Brazil is known as the country of football and Carnival. Scenes of naked women dancing on floats travel the world, reinforcing the image of easy sex and prostitution in our country. There are many instances of women being treated as prostitutes when, abroad, they identify themselves as Brazilian. The blame for this confusion comes, to a large extent, from Carnival.

4. It is politically indecent. Since antiquity, governments have entertained the people with bread and circuses. In this sense, the Brazilian government counts on the help of football and Carnival. In recent times, the situation is even worse because of the crisis that has settled in our nation. As the song said: Life of cattle, marked people, happy people...

5. It is economically unfair. The millions of reais invested by the government in this party could be used in housing, hospitals and schools. The ambulances and police that are deployed to the parades could be available to the population. In a country that still cares for patients on stretchers in hospital corridors, Carnival should definitely be the last option for the government to invest taxpayer money.

6. It is socially harmful. Carnival does not bring any good to society. On the contrary, the amount of young people taking drugs and drinking alcohol is gigantic. Diseases such as flu, herpes, conjunctivitis, hepatitis and AIDS multiply during this period and promiscuity generates thousands of unwanted pregnancies and abortions. The number of car accidents increases.

For all this, it is inconceivable that a Christian, committed to Jesus Christ, could have any admiration for Carnival. If by chance you feel tempted by this feast, remember that "God did not call us for filthiness, but for sanctification" (1 Thess 4.7) and that whoever loves the things of this world makes himself an enemy of God ( Tg 4.4). May God sanctify you.

AGEU MAGALHÃES