A week ago I attended a music festival with 100,000 primarily young people in Manchester, Tennessee for the annual Bonnaroo four-day music extravaganza.
Security was minimal at Bonnaroo and had a free flowing, roam the grounds “live it up” vibe. Most girls cast modesty aside amidst lots of guys with “hungry eyes” observing the women strolling the grounds.
As darkness descended and the performing groups thundered out a cacophony of musical sounds, discerning disciples of Jesus could sense spirits of uncleanness and lust in the air.
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As summer officially gets underway, music festivals abound in America. They’re too numerous to count and bring a bundle of bucks to promoters. Unsupervised young people are drawn by performing artists and provocative themes.
Heads Up!
Survey the scene at Lollapalooza: “Ratboys,” “Still Woozy,” “Latin Mafia” to name a few. Some “artists” take off on profanity laced political rants while promoting abortion and trans insanity.
Lil Wayne is a convicted felon out of prison making millions with his tough guy image and defiant songs and albums like “I Am Not a Human Being,” “Annihilate” and his all-time biggest hit “Lollipop” which is an X-rated anthem of perversion and profanity.
Recent Research
The Durham Report of a few years ago provides us with helpful insights. This research study conducted by Durham University highlights some very real dangers.
“Music Festivals Urged to Do More to Tackle Sexual Violence” was the title of the report. The study stated that “the set up and culture of music festivals can create dangerous spaces, where sexual violence and harassment can be perpetuated…The combination of size, layout, attitudes and behavior at festivals can make these events conducive to sexual violence.”
Participants in the study appealed to the organizers of these festivals to take this seriously and face the brutal reality that this is a definite safety risk. The research was shocking as it revealed that among 450 festival goers, a third of the females were sexually harassed and 8% were sexually assaulted.
Sexual Assault
Researcher Heather McKay released a well-documented article on the rise of sexual violence at these types of concerts, “Gone are the days when the worst thing a woman had to worry about at a concert was getting her purse snatched. Experts we talked to say sexual assaults at concerts and music festivals are on the rise, the product of lax security, drugs and alcohol.”
• Sexual battery at a Beyoncé concert
• A teenager allegedly assaulted in broad daylight at a Keith Urban concert while others watched. The attorney justified the behavior as “consensual.”
• At one event there was a woman sexually assaulted and robbed; a teenager assaulted in a porta potty; a parking lot attendant allegedly assaulted a girl.
Experts say that organizers don’t want to spoil the atmosphere with security “snooping” around and point out that “most victims don’t report crimes and many can’t recall details due to drugs and alcohol.”
Bible Counsel
God created music and festive celebrations, but remember: “Do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33) and “The prudent see danger and take refuge but the simple keep going and pay the penalty” (Prov. 27:12).
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Here’s the deal: not all pop singers and songs are perverted and immoral. Not every concert and festival is a haven of hedonism. If you look hard and research carefully, you can find some great ones and God-honoring artists whom we should support… but be careful and don’t compromise – your children’s futures are at stake.
Larry Tomczak is a best-selling author of 10 books, cultural commentator of 50 years, Intercessors for America board member and a public policy adviser with Liberty Counsel. Go to larrytomczak.com to watch 30 amazing, free, brief, on-demand videos by America’s top leaders so you can confidently address today’s tough issues.
