The Excuse We All Hear
“It’s just music.”
That’s the default response whenever Christians raise concern about what’s blaring through the radio, earbuds, or stadium speakers. People treat songs as background noise, harmless entertainment to pass the time. But Scripture never treats music as trivial. Music has always been a spiritual force — capable of lifting hearts toward God or dragging them into rebellion.
- David played the harp, and evil spirits fled from Saul (1 Samuel 16:23).
- Israel worshiped with songs of victory after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1–2).
- Paul and Silas sang hymns in prison, and the foundations shook (Acts 16:25–26).
If worship to God can break chains, then music used for darkness can just as powerfully enslave.
The Trojan Horse of Music
Music bypasses logic and goes straight to the soul. A sermon may be forgotten, but a chorus sticks in your head for years. That’s why the enemy uses music as one of his most effective Trojan Horses. Lyrics and rhythms package rebellion, lust, and even direct worship of Satan in ways that sound catchy and fun. What you sing, you begin to believe. What you repeat, you begin to live.
That’s why advertisers use jingles, why political movements adopt anthems, and why cultures are remembered as much for their songs as for their laws. Music doesn’t just reflect culture — it drives it. When sin is wrapped in melody, it bypasses critical thought and is absorbed as truth. Over time, those repeated lyrics become normalized in the heart, shaping convictions and behavior without the listener even realizing it.
Modern Examples of Music’s Influence
Note: This is only a small sample. I selected artists who have the greatest influence on our culture today—especially on young people. The list could easily include over 100 names.
Taylor Swift — Witchcraft and Idolatry
Taylor Swift, one of the most influential artists of this generation, has increasingly infused her music and concerts with occult and witchcraft imagery. From Willow’s witchcraft-inspired music video to entire stadium tours framed as enchanting rituals, she has built a cultural following that borders on worship. Fans don’t just enjoy her songs — they call themselves a “Swiftie” family, adopting her worldview as a lifestyle. Idolatry and spiritual imitation are disguised as fandom.
Lady Gaga — Blasphemy and Shock as Art
Lady Gaga has long pushed boundaries by using religious imagery in deliberately provocative ways. From her Alejandro music video, where she dressed as a nun and swallowed a rosary, to live performances mixing crosses with sexual acts, her art often mocks or distorts Christian symbols. In interviews, she has openly embraced her identity as a provocateur, using shock to capture attention and shift cultural norms.
Her concerts function almost like worship gatherings, complete with rituals, chants, and symbolic imagery. Millions of fans call her “Mother Monster,” revealing the cult-like devotion she inspires. By presenting rebellion, blasphemy, and sexuality as liberation, Gaga has discipled an entire generation to see sin as art and God’s holiness as restrictive.
Sam Smith — Open Celebration of Sin
Sam Smith has transitioned from singing mainstream ballads to openly embracing shock performances drenched in spiritual rebellion. At the 2023 Grammy Awards, Smith and Kim Petras performed “Unholy” dressed in demonic attire, complete with red lighting, cages, and Satanic imagery. What millions saw as edgy entertainment was, in reality, a ritual celebrating sin on one of the world’s biggest stages.
Smith has also openly defied biblical sexuality, using their platform to champion transgender and nonbinary ideologies while mocking traditional morality. With lyrics and visuals that glamorize immorality, the performance was praised by media outlets as “iconic” and “bold,” further revealing how deeply culture now celebrates darkness as light (Isaiah 5:20).
By using music and spectacle, Sam Smith has discipled fans — not just into accepting sin, but applauding it as liberation and identity.
Doja Cat — Open Satanic Imagery
Doja Cat has openly embraced demonic visuals in her videos and performances. Her 2023 album art and stage presence included images of horns, blood, and hellish themes. She even leaned into mocking Christian concern, branding herself with Satanic aesthetics while her music climbed the charts. The shock factor is not accidental — it’s spiritual conditioning.
Lil Nas X — Satan as Spectacle
Lil Nas X went from children’s entertainer with Old Town Road to releasing Montero (Call Me By Your Name) — a video where he descends into hell and gives Satan a lap dance. He later sold “Satan Shoes” allegedly containing drops of human blood. This wasn’t subtle rebellion — it was open mockery of God, marketed to the same youth who first embraced him.
Beyoncé — Goddess Worship
Beyoncé frequently incorporates goddess imagery, referencing Yoruba deities like Oshun in her performances. In her Lemonade album and concerts, she appears in goddess-like attire, evoking spiritual symbolism tied to pagan worship. Millions chant her lyrics, often unaware they’re participating in a form of liturgy that exalts self and false gods over the Creator.
Travis Scott — Occult Overtones in Concerts
In 2021, Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival became infamous after a deadly crowd surge left 10 people dead. Survivors reported eerie symbolism, including inverted crosses, burning portals, and chants as the music blared. His concerts often feature demonic imagery and chaos presented as entertainment. What should have been music became a disturbing picture of mass ritual.
Other Examples That Paved the Way
- Black Sabbath: Classic rock often blended rebellion, drugs, and occult references. Some songs were rumored to include backmasking with Satanic messages.
- Madonna: Pushed boundaries with sexuality, blasphemy, and the mantra of “express yourself,” paving the way for later artists.
- Marilyn Manson: Openly anti-Christian, his concerts featured desecration of Bibles and blatant Satanic imagery.
- Eminem: Lyrics glorifying violence, promiscuity, and rebellion dominated charts, shaping millennial culture.
Each generation’s music pushed the line a little further, preparing today’s youth for open Satanism in mainstream pop.
The Spiritual Consequences
Music is never “just music.” It is worship — the only question is: who is being worshiped?
- Idolatry: When fans elevate artists above God.
- Rebellion: When sin is normalized and celebrated in lyrics.
- Bondage: When music fuels lust, anger, or depression rather than peace.
Paul’s command in Colossians 3:16 is clear: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” God intended music to disciple us in truth. Satan twists it to disciple us in rebellion. And because music touches both heart and mind, it has the power to either set us free in worship or enslave us in sin. The devil doesn’t care whether you call it “art” or “expression” — if it draws you away from Christ, it has already served its purpose. That’s why discernment is not about style or preference, but about the spirit behind the song.
The Call to Discernment
The next time you hear, “It’s just music,” remember: every song is a sermon. Every lyric is a seed. Every beat is a message. The only question is whether it draws you closer to Christ — or deeper into compromise.
The devil doesn’t need you to bow at an altar if he can get you to hum along to his lies. Songs become the soundtrack of our lives, shaping the way we think about love, identity, and truth without us even realizing it. What we fill our playlists with today will become the convictions and values we live by tomorrow. That’s why discernment isn’t optional — it’s essential. If worship lifts our souls toward God, then worldly music can just as powerfully lead us away from Him.
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