The Sound of Seduction: The Allure of Music and the Danger of its Influence

I am coming at you today with a topic of great importance: Music. Buckle up because this will be a long one.. Do you know that according to spotify.com, there are 615 million users, including 239 million subscribers? On businessofapps.com, it states that 93 million people subscribe to apple music as of June 2023. Music is the one thing in our society that everyone has and listens to. If you don't have it, you're bound to be exposed to it. It makes sense that it would be something to slowly corrupt your mind.

I'm bringing this to your attention because I believe we need to consider the impact of music on our lives. You may dismiss it and say, " it's just music," but I firmly disagree - it's a significant factor in shaping our upbringing. Think about it: from the earliest moments of our childhood, sound has been a constant source of attention-grabbing stimulation. Whether it's a mother's soft whisper or the dramatic soundtrack of a movie, the noise that surrounds us has a significant influence.

While you might be familiar with music's emotional influence on us, imagine how it can shape our children's emotional experiences. It makes me sad every time I think about it. The majority of kids today are exposed to popular artists like Cardi B, Sabrina Carpenter, Drake, Taylor Swift, Sexxy Red, and others, which can have a profound and lasting impact on their emotional and physical well-being.

You're likely aware of the reasons why I mentioned certain artists, as their content is not suitable for children. But one of the artists I want to talk about is Taylor Swift, an artist who is surprisingly promoted and defended by some Christians. I'm prepared to face backlash and potentially lose subscribers for speaking out on this artist, but I'm willing to take the risk. Below you will find lyrics from some of Taylor swift's songs.

False God by Taylor Swift

"But we might just get away with it

Religion's in your lips

Even if it's a false god

We'd still worship

We might just get away with it

The altar is my hips

Even if it's a false god

We'd still worship this love

We'd still worship this love

We'd still worship this love

I know heaven's a thing

I go there when you touch me

Honey hell is when I fight with you

But we can patch it up good

Make confessions and we're begging for forgiveness

Got the wine for you..."

Guilty as Sin? by Taylor Swift

"Why does it feel like a vow

We'll both uphold somehow?

What if he's written 'mine' on my upper thigh

Only in my mind?

One slip and falling back into the hedge maze

Oh what a way to die

My bedsheets are ablaze

I've screamed his name

Building up like waves

Crashing over my grave

Without ever touching his skin

How can I be guilty as sin?

What if I roll the stone away?

They're gonna crucify me anyway

What if the way you hold me

Is actually what's holy?

If long suffering propriety

Is what they want from me

They don't know how you've haunted me

So stunningly

I choose you and me

... Religiously"

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived by Taylor Swift

"In fifty years, will all this be declassified?

And you'll confess why you did it

And I'll say, "Good riddance"

'Cause it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden

I would've died for your sins

Instead, I just died inside"

Karma by Taylor Swift

"Cause karma is my boyfriend

Karma is a god

Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend

Karma's a relaxing thought

Aren't you envious that for you it's not?

Sweet like honey, karma is a cat

Purring in my lap 'cause it loves me

Flexing like a goddamn acrobat

Me and karma vibe like that

Spider-boy, king of thieves

Weave your little webs of opacity

My pennies made your crown

Trick me once, trick me twice

Don't you know that cash ain't the only price?

It's coming back around"

Clara Bow by Taylor Swift

"The crown is stained but you're the real queen

Flesh and blood amongst war machines

You're the new god we're worshipping

Promise to be ... dazzling"

Beauty is a beast that roars

Down on all fours

Demanding "more"

Only when your girlish glow

Flickers just so

Do they let you know

It's hell on earth to be heavenly

Them's the breaks

They don't come gently

"You look like Taylor Swift

In this light

We're loving it.

You've got edge she never did

The future's bright

... Dazzling."

While I have only really scratched the surface, it's clear that Taylor Swift's music shows a problematic narrative. Her recent albums, as well as others, frequently promote promiscuity, explicit language, anti-male sentiments, feminist agendas, anti-Christian things, and support for LGBT issues. Let's set aside her music for a minute and examine the things she advocates for in her daily life.

During the issues surrounding Roe V Wade, a lot of celebrities took a very troubling stand for abortion rights. On Twitter Taylor wrote, "I’m absolutely terrified that this is where we are - that after so many decades of people fighting for women’s rights to their own bodies, today’s decision has stripped us of that." And when pride month in 2023 happened, she made many comments on how she felt about supporting LGBT.

It appears Taylor is actively involved in the pro-choice movement and other social justice causes that contradict Christian values. While I understand that some may argue that we must love everyone unconditionally, I'm not suggesting that we hate these individuals. But you need to stand up for what is good in this world, or evil will find a way to take over..

So, when you purchase Taylor's music, engage with her lyrics, and actively support her, you are inadvertently endorsing not only her music but also the underlying causes and themes that inspire her to write. Is that what you really want to do? You can count me out on that.

I recently came across an insightful YouTube video by Good Fight Ministries. While, I do not agree with all of their videos on their page, this video was very interesting. I highly recommend taking the time to watch and listen to their commentary, as they bring forth some compelling points and shed light on things that I hadn't really considered...

I'm left wondering: why are Christians still listening to this type of music? Is it simply because of the widespread popularity, or is there a deeper reason at play? Are we so enamored because we want to fit in with the world? As Christians, we are supposed to stand apart from the world. Yet it appears that many are willing to compromise their values for the sake of fitting in with modern culture.

While we all make mistakes and sin, that doesn't justify condoning or promoting behaviors that are harmful and destructive. Truly understand when I say this, we cannot turn a blind eye to evil or support it under the guise of tolerance or acceptance. Instead, we must stand up for what is right and uphold our values.

The Bible does not instruct us to support every individual or ideology, but rather to love everyone while still opposing evil and calling out wrongdoing.

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

1 Corinthians 15:33

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

Romans 12:9

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

1 Timothy 4:1

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Isaiah 5:20

Music has this remarkable ability to elevate the excitement in our daily lives. Whether it's a basic errand run or a lengthy car ride, we often find ourselves craving the entertainment provided by our favorite artists or genres. Grocery stores even play soothing music to create a comfortable atmosphere, and some argue that it can also subtly influence our purchasing decisions.

That's why the psychology behind it is incredibly interesting to me. What happens when we're exposed to songs that glorify negative themes, such as promiscuity or substance abuse? Do we become more likely to engage in these behaviors as a result? My research uncovered some startling findings that you may be interested in.

"In addition, researchers find that music-induced harm can occur when people listen to self-identified sad music during moments of psychological distress. Among teens, this can be potentially harmful when music is used with the intention of attaining feelings of support, but instead, the music intensifies symptoms which can result in behaviors that are unhealthy or harmful. Researchers also find that it is important to understand the influence of peer subcultures and the potential influence of preferred music on self-injurious behavior." -Chnola.org

"Previous studies have found that enjoying or listening to heavy metal and rap music correlates with hostile attitudes, negative attitudes toward women, lower academic performance, behavior problems in school, drug use and arrests. Experimental studies of music without lyrics found that listening to “tense” music resulted in people writing more unpleasant stories in the Thematic Apperception Test." -center4research.org

"Research also suggests that commentary about sexuality from popular entertainment can influence the behavior of adolescents. Sexual musical lyrics have been reported to be associated with unintended pregnancies, risky sexual behaviors, and a higher risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in adolescence." -news-medical.net

Before I'm met with criticism, let me clarify: I'm not advocating for a complete ban on secular music - I enjoy listening to a variety of artists myself. However, I am urging a greater level of discernment and thoughtfulness when it comes to our listening habits. The idea that what we consume through music can shape our thoughts and attitudes is not far-fetched, and there's actually scientific evidence to support this claim. (Shown above)

It's quite clear that the impact of music on our lives is a topic that has gained significant attention, with thousands of studies and discussions devoted to the subject. I'm not alone in my concerns about this issue, and I need for y'all to take a closer look at the impact of your music choices. As someone who has personally experienced the influence of heavy metal, hard rock, and other genres, I can admit that I instantly recognized the effects they had on my life and emotions.

However, I didn't take action (at first) to change my listening habits because I was concerned about being judged by others - I didn't want to be seen as "weird" or "crazy" for not being like others. I encourage you to break free from this mindset and prioritize what matters, rather than trying to fit in with the crowd. We all make choices about the things we surround ourselves with, and sometimes those choices can be harmful or distracting.

I want to ask you to think about whether the things you're exposing yourself to are truly worth the potential cost. Are you willing to compromise your values or relationship with God for a fleeting pleasure or convenience? And are you willing to risk influencing your children in ways that may negatively impact their lives and well-being? While it may seem harmless, the messages and themes in secular music can either draw you closer to God or lead you further away.

Don't be fooled into thinking that Christian music is dull or unappealing. In fact, there are many amazing options available that can nourish your soul and inspire your faith. As someone who has thought these things before, I can now say that I was very wrong. Over time, I started to appreciate Christian music, including sub genres of it like pop, rock, and country, as well as classical and opera. While I still enjoy some secular music, I now make sure to thoroughly research an artist's background, values, and lyrics before listening to the music.

This ensures that it aligns with my own moral standards and that it's free from inappropriate content. I've noticed myself drawn to the music of the 1950s to 1990s. There's something about older music that resonates with me, and I'm pretty sure it has to do with the morals of that time. I will talk about that in another post one day.. Now, I understand that my concerns may not resonate with everyone, but I urge you to take a moment to reflect on your daily choices.

The consequences of certain secular music may seem insignificant, but they have a big effect on yourself and those around you. It's more serious than you know and that's why I made this post today. I encourage you to use discernment and do your own research before embracing certain influences or lifestyles. By doing so, you may just prevent harm from coming to yourself, your children, and others who are vulnerable to negative influences.

I hope that this wasn't too long to read and that you learned something from it. I hope that y'all have a wonderful Thursday and God bless!