Taylor Swift Is the Wrong Idol for Our Kids

Taylor Swift is everywhere. Whether it’s her music, her concerts, or now her engagement to football star Travis Kelce, she dominates the headlines. At 55 years old, I can look at her from a different perspective than a teenager or twenty-something fan. She’s twenty years younger than me — old enough to be my daughter — and I can’t help but ask: why are so many young people idolizing her?

Featured Snippet Takeaway: Taylor Swift is idolized worldwide, but from a Christian perspective, Taylor Swift is the wrong idol for kids.

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The Problem of Idolizing Taylor Swift

The Bible is clear that worship and devotion belong to God alone. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). Yet in our culture today, Taylor Swift has become more than just a pop star — she has become an idol. Her fan base, known as “Swifties,” hang on her every word, follow her every move, and even elevate her lyrics to the level of personal philosophy.

This isn’t just harmless entertainment. Idolizing a celebrity shapes values, behaviors, and even beliefs. When young girls look at Taylor Swift as their role model, they aren’t just admiring her music — they’re absorbing her worldview.

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Taylor Swift Does Not Model Christian Values

Taylor was raised in a Christian environment, but her lyrics and performances today reflect a worldview that often stands in stark contrast to biblical truth. Songs like “False God” treat romance as a kind of religion. Tracks like “Don’t Blame Me” glorify obsession and lust as if they were holy pursuits. In other moments, she sarcastically mocks judgmental Christians or uses biblical imagery in ways that twist rather than honor Scripture.

This kind of cultural compromise is exactly what I warned about in The Real Danger of Progressive Christianity. It communicates to young fans that faith is flexible and sin is empowering, when in reality, God calls us to holiness, purity, and devotion to Him alone.

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The Allure of Rebellion

Kirk Cameron recently pointed out that much of Taylor Swift’s content glorifies rebellion. He’s right. Whether it’s rebelling against critics, societal expectations, or moral boundaries, her message often boils down to: “Do what you want, no matter the cost.”

But rebellion isn’t neutral. Scripture makes a sobering statement in 1 Samuel 15:23: “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” That doesn’t mean every rebellious act is literally witchcraft, but it does mean rebellion is spiritually serious. It leads away from God’s authority and opens the door for destructive influences.

When a celebrity like Taylor Swift normalizes rebellion, it gives young fans permission to dismiss authority — including the authority of God’s Word.

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Why Celebrity Worship Is So Dangerous

Taylor Swift is not unique. Much of today’s music industry promotes values contrary to Scripture: lust, pride, revenge, greed, and self-worship. But because Taylor is the most visible cultural figure right now, she represents the larger issue.

Celebrity worship is dangerous because it trains hearts to look to humans for meaning, identity, and guidance. Instead of Christ shaping young lives, celebrities become their “discipleship leaders.” That’s why parents and believers must be discerning.

This isn’t the first time culture has elevated the wrong values. As I wrote in Woke Advertising Is Backfiring—Just Ask Jaguar, when companies bow to cultural idols, it always backfires.

Many of today’s teens don’t just admire celebrities — they develop what psychologists call celebrity worship syndrome. Research from mental-health specialists at Newport Academy warns that when admiration becomes obsession, it often becomes “an indicator of a teen mental health issue.” (newportacademy.com) This is exactly the kind of cultural idolization Christians are warned against — substituting a human celebrity for Christ.

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The Christian Alternative

So what do we do as believers when the culture elevates someone like Taylor Swift? We don’t need to respond with hatred or conspiracy theories. The point isn’t to attack her personally, but to shine light on the truth: she is not the right role model.

Instead, we must point our children — and ourselves — to godly examples. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” That’s the standard. Not popularity. Not fame. Not beauty. But faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

Let’s encourage young people to look up to women who model biblical virtue: humility, purity, faith, and service. Let’s teach them that their identity is not in being a “Swiftie,” but in being a child of God.

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Final Takeaway

Taylor Swift may dominate the headlines and capture the world’s attention, but she does not exemplify what it means to follow Christ. From provocative imagery to lyrics that glorify sin and rebellion, her influence leads hearts away from God, not toward Him.

As Christians, we must lovingly but firmly declare: Taylor Swift is the wrong idol for our kids.

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Arch Kennedy
Bold, Unfiltered, and Unafraid