7 Lessons of a Christian Swiftie

This blog is based on Berna’s high school workshop at Ignite Conference. Check it out if you’d like to hear how this topic was addressed in a room full of teenagers!

Even if you try, we know all too well it’s kinda hard to ignore global superstar Taylor Swift right now. As the one most listened to female artist worldwide and an influential voice for the young (and not only the young) it’s worth asking the question whether as Christians we should be listening. We’re going to dive headlong into why Taylor’s mastermind has earned her a unique place in this world and why I should have my eyes open to this if Jesus is the real king of my heart.

Lesson #1: We are craving authenticity and connection

Taylor’s music has connected with millions of people the world over because they relate to her experience of love, loss, heartbreak and struggle.  As humans it’s good to connect with our emotions and for many people, music is one way to do this.  For some, listening to music is the primary way they express and explore emotions! 

As Christians, we need to be able to process our feelings in ways that lead us to faith, hope and love and into connection with God and others.  Listening to music can be a good springboard for emotional expression and exploration, but it’s likely there are also other (and sometimes better) ways to do this: taking time out alone, playing with a pet, chatting to friends or family, prayer, writing songs or poetry, being in nature and physical expression through dance and sport.

As Christians, I also think we also need to ask if we are connecting to the deepest struggles, heartbreaks and longings of the people around us? Are we courageous enough to begin a conversation with the people about how things are really going: to listen and to speak with truth, wisdom and love.  We know the best way to minister the love of God is through genuine relationship: to people who know we love and care for them and have their best interests at heart.

Lesson #2: Never give up hope!

I’ll be the first to admit that Taylor is not a role model in every aspect of her life.  Having said that, I think one of the reasons why many people are inspired by her story is because they see in her someone who has triumphed over difficult circumstances and hasn’t given up. 

I think many parents are pleased when they look at the example she sets of someone working hard to achieve their goals and dreams and foster their talents and passion.  In different parts of her story, Taylor has also talked about being faced with and overcoming really common human struggles, like comparison, poor body image, low self esteem, rejection and relationship breakdown.  Again, I think her response is not perfect and not always saintly, but I think that there’s still a lesson to be learned of not giving up hope and letting failure, rejection and disappointment having the last word. 

As Christians, I think this is a message we can get on board with and applaud.

Lesson #3: Teamwork makes the dream work

I don’t think it’s controversial to say that Taylor Swift is not the best singer of our generation.  I think that accolade would go to someone like Adele or Beyonce.  So what has been the secret sauce in her success as the world’s most popular female artist of our times? 

Among many factors like determination, opportunity and her capacity to connect with people, I think part of her success has been to surround herself with great people, other amazing musicians and artists and to not work alone.  We know that she is just one (crucial) cog in a very large machine of producers, musicians, songwriters, dancers and choreographers (as well as publicists, lawyers, strategists etc…) and that her skill and capacity has only increased as she’s learnt and collaborated with them.  As a seemingly “solo artist” it can be tempting to think that Taylor is a lone wolf who needs no one.  The reality is she is part of a massive team who she needs to support her and become what she has. 

As Christians, I reckon we can all learn from this in our own projects, goals, dreams and vocation in life.  We can’t do it alone but need to rely upon others and the community around us to “succeed” in whatever way that looks for us!

Lesson #4: Forgiveness sets you free

One of the areas where I reckon Taylor gets it wrong as a role model is in the area of forgiveness.  Of her whole collection of music, I can only think of one song (Back to December) that speaks about forgiveness, remorse or even regret.  There’s probably a few more.  But in a collection of hundreds of songs, it’s a drop in the ocean.  In one of her songs (This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things) she even mocks the idea of forgiveness.  Instead, there’s plenty of her songs about revenge and reflecting negatively on people that have hurt her.  It’s probably fair to say that a large part of the Taylor persona she has created is about laying out her dirty laundry by making albums out of her broken relationships and speaking ill of others in a vengeful and spiteful way.

As Christians, we know that forgiveness is not easy and it can take a long time (sometimes even a lifetime) to genuinely forgive those who hurt us.  However, it’s the goal of the Christian life, and a major theme of the Our Father, the foundational prayer of Christians.  As Christians we aspire to have hearts of mercy for the weaknesses of others and to apologise when we wrong others and seek their forgiveness.  Hanging onto past hurts isn’t good for us and can weigh us down and especially where we exaggerate and don’t take responsibility if we have also contributed hurt towards the person.  Honesty, accountability and repentance set us free while unforgiveness and exaggeration holds us captive.  It’s a lesson that we must learn as Christians that I don’t think Taylor will be teaching us anytime soon…

Lesson #5: You are what you eat…

We know that what we consume affects us: upbeat music can change our mood, inspiring lyrics make us want to achieve greatness, hopeful ballads lift our spirits and romantic love songs melt our hearts.  So what then of songs that contain revenge and spite, swearing and malice, references to other religions and evil spirits or contain sexualised or adulterous lyrics (all of which can be found woven into Taylor’s extensive collection of music)?

As Christians, one of the most important skills we can grow in is discernment (for example by studying St Ignatius’ Rules for Discernment) so that we can learn to judge the tree by its fruits (cf Mt 7:16).  Discernment means to consider if something is leading you to faith, hope and love or away from it?  Is it leading you into freedom or unfreedom?  Is it opening you up to temptation towards lust, greed, selfishness and/or the ways of the evil one in some way?

This is something to be aware of in the whole of our lives: in what we watch, listen to, partake in, speak about and experience.  Some common examples of things that tempt us away from faith, hope and love might include gossiping, social media, gaming, parties, movies/TV, parties and romantic relationships.

If we find that something is drawing us away from faith, hope and love, we may need to seek help from someone to break free from its power over us, own up to it in confession, take a break, seek more positive habits and behaviours or place ourselves in environments without it.

I could tell you to never ever consume secular music, and for some Christians this is the choice that their discernment has led them to and this might be the most helpful advice you could receive in your situation.  What I think is probably more helpful, is to learn to grow in discernment: to have the awareness to know when something is taking you off track and what to do about it.

Lesson #6: Finding your vocation = true fulfilment

I think a lot of the world’s enjoyment over Taylor Swift’s success is seeing someone at the top of their game and (it would seem) thoroughly enjoying what they do.  Being in the public eye is an incredibly risky business.  It means putting yourself out there for approval and disapproval on a daily basis.  It means trying your best in a culture that might think that is a cringey thing to do. 

We know as Christians that God has placed desires in our hearts too, that he wants to fulfil.  God has given us gifts to share and opens up opportunities for us to grow them and use them for the good of others, to succeed in them and fail in them as we go along our journey. One of the most beautiful expressions of the human person is seeing someone fully living their God-given calling: whatever that may be. 

You might think that superstars like Taylor Swift are only in it for the fame and power that comes with incredible amounts of money, but when you consider the pressure and personal cost that comes with popularity of this degree, you’d have to have a burning passion for it to make it all worthwhile! 

As Christians, we need to be tuned into the burning passions that God has placed on our hearts: whether it’s serving the poor, writing music, marrying the love of our life or telling everyone about the love of God – our hearts will not be at rest until we fully use our gifts for the good of others and for the glory of God and we can’t let fear or any other obstacles stand in the way of this.

Lesson #7: Jesus can offer riches the world cannot

I’ve lived long enough, and you probably have too, to know that empty feeling when the thing that promised so much just didn’t live up to expectations…the Maccas burger that didn’t quite satisfy, the expensive haircut that didn’t change your life, the shopping spree that only left you with a list of more things you need…I could go on and on!  Before I joined the MGLs, I remember taking a seven-week overseas trip: one last hurrah after nearly a decade of annual international travel before taking up the life of poverty and no longer having control over my money.  As I took in the sights of exotic places like Istanbul, Madrid and even Marrakesh in Morocco, I remember thinking that, exciting as it was, I was excited all the more for the life with Jesus that lay ahead of me!  Even since joining the Sisters, I’ve been surprised to find a sense of emptiness in the midst of achievement, possessions and other “earthly” riches when compared with the “heavenly” riches of having encountered the love of God in real and profound ways.

Of all of the things I could have done with my life: I’ve made the choice to follow Jesus and put him first.  You might have made the same choice.  It’s a decision that colours and changes everything and puts everything else into perspective, a bit like looking through a different lens or having your taste palette attuned so that the things of the world no longer have the same shine and appeal as they perhaps once did.

Something that’s surprised me on this journey is that sometimes “worldly” things can minister God’s presence to me because I’m looking at it through this lens: the mushy rom-com reminds me of the extravagant love of God, a night out dancing with friends fills me with pure joy, a cup of tea and a good novel makes the world right again, a secular song hits my emotions and shows up something in me I hadn’t noticed before…but because I’m grounded in the love of God I view all things through the lens of his presence, mercy and goodness.

So while the world goes temporarily crazy over the Eras Tour and Swifties religiously worship the Gospel according to Taylor, I’m celebrating being grounded in a God who is Lord over all and whose love and truth is never ending, for a thousand generations (cf Deut 7:9).

Berna Toohey

Image: Ronald Woan, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Taylor_Swift_Eras_Tour_-_Arlington%2C_TX_-_Folklore_act_3.jpg