Preserving Transcendent Beauty
Last week I began a series that seeks to answer the question of how important one’s philosophy of culture and worship is in relation to… Read More »Preserving Transcendent Beauty
Scott Aniol
Scott Aniol is the founder and Executive Director of Religious Affections Ministries. He is director of doctoral worship studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he teaches courses in ministry, worship, hymnology, aesthetics, culture, and philosophy. He is the author of Worship in Song: A Biblical Approach to Music and Worship, Sound Worship: A Guide to Making Musical Choices in a Noisy World, and By the Waters of Babylon: Worship in a Post-Christian Culture, and speaks around the country in churches and conferences. He is an elder in his church in Fort Worth, TX where he resides with his wife and four children. Views posted here are his own and not necessarily those of his employer.
The “Two Hands” of Ministry
In 2006 an approach to church ministry began to gain popularity. It was called a “two-handed” approach to ministry. One closed hand represented the theology… Read More »The “Two Hands” of Ministry
Should philosophies of culture hinder cooperation?
There are several adjectives that I happily use to describe myself and my beliefs. The first is obviously, “Christian,” but there are a lot of… Read More »Should philosophies of culture hinder cooperation?
National Anthems and the Universal Language
While watching an Olympic medal ceremony a few evenings ago, I remembered a blog post I wrote over ten years ago (on a now extinct blog)… Read More »National Anthems and the Universal Language
Receive a MA or PhD in Worship Studies without Relocating
For the past five years I have had the privilege of teaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. It has been a… Read More »Receive a MA or PhD in Worship Studies without Relocating
Work that Serves Christ
Many Christians think about serving Christ as something we do inside the church. If you’re a really good Christian, you’ll volunteer in the church nursery,… Read More »Work that Serves Christ
Worship isn’t just something we do; it is where God does something to us.
When we tacitly assume that we are the primary actors in worship, then we also assume that worship is basically an expressive endeavor. This is why we… Read More »Worship isn’t just something we do; it is where God does something to us.
The Path
It was to be his first journey through the forest. Gram watched excitedly as his grandfather hitched the wagon to the old family work horse.… Read More »The Path
Democracy of the Dead
Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to… Read More »Democracy of the Dead
John Makujina’s Preface to the Third Edition of Measuring the Music
The closing of Old Paths Publications combined with continued demand has occasioned another printing of Measuring the Music, under a new publisher. Therefore, the author… Read More »John Makujina’s Preface to the Third Edition of Measuring the Music
Calvin Johansson’s Foreword to Measuring the Music
As I write this foreword we are halfway through the last year of the last century of the second millennium A.D. Far from being a… Read More »Calvin Johansson’s Foreword to Measuring the Music
My favorite parts of Measuring the Music
I announced yesterday the publication of the Third Edition of John Makujina’s classic analysis of the Contemporary Christian Music movement, Measuring the Music. If I remember… Read More »My favorite parts of Measuring the Music
Making Measuring the Music by John Makujina Available Again!
I am very pleased to announce the publication of a Third Edition of John Makuina’s valuable analysis of the Contemporary Christian Music movement, Measuring the Music.… Read More »Making Measuring the Music by John Makujina Available Again!
What makes something classic?
“Classic”–a word that can describe any number of things, including art, literature, music, theology, and tradition. But what does it mean? What makes something classic?… Read More »What makes something classic?
New book by David de Bruyn: The Conservative Church
I am very pleased to announce the publication of a new book by David de Bruyn: The Conservative Church. The following is Kevin Bauder’s foreword to… Read More »New book by David de Bruyn: The Conservative Church
Maintaining appropriate unity and necessary disunity through worship
Over the past several weeks, I have been demonstrating how the theology and practice of worship has historically divided Christians into various denominations, provided the… Read More »Maintaining appropriate unity and necessary disunity through worship
Lessons from a Worship War for a People in Exile
Here is a sermon I preached yesterday at our church that’s relevant to matters we discuss often here. Read 1 Kings 18:1-40 The Rise and… Read More »Lessons from a Worship War for a People in Exile
Blurring doctrinal distinctives with Church Growth
Last week I discussed how the Praise and Worship movement has blurred important doctrinal distinctives between churches and denominations by making musical style the predominant… Read More »Blurring doctrinal distinctives with Church Growth
Blurring doctrinal distinctives with Praise and Worship
Over the past several weeks I have been showing that, while differences over worship theology and practice have been one of the most significant doctrinal dividers,… Read More »Blurring doctrinal distinctives with Praise and Worship
Liturgy as an appropriate unifier
God wants his people to be unified, but some doctrinal and practical matters are important enough that secondary division is necessary. Such is the case… Read More »Liturgy as an appropriate unifier