Scott Aniol

Scott Aniol is the founder and Executive Director of Religious Affections Ministries. He is Chair of the Worship Ministry Department 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.

Author Archives: Scott Aniol

The Unproven Premise

The Unproven Premise

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I’ve heard the argument many times; it goes something like this: We shouldn’t divide over mere preferences; therefore, we shouldn’t divide over music. It’s admittedly a clever argument. Who would disagree with the first premise? Who would defend dividing over mere preferences? No one would. So, the argument gets the listen to immediately agree–of course… Continue Reading

Is the secularization of Christmas anything new?

Is the secularization of Christmas anything new?

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Every year about this time we begin to hear again about the “war on Christmas,” and this year is no different. Apparently Starbucks is the latest offender, with some Christians up in arms about the fact that the coffee shop unveiled a plain red “holiday cup” instead of their traditional “Christmas cup.” From boycotting companies… Continue Reading

Answering Paige Patterson’s Suggestions for Worship in Song

Answering Paige Patterson’s Suggestions for Worship in Song

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In 2013, Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Baptist Theologian Seminary, wrote a kind review in Artistic Theologian of my first book, Worship in Song: A Biblical Approach to Music and Worship (2009). Ever since I first met Dr. Patterson, I’ve known that he has a deep interest in and concern for biblical worship. This is one reason,… Continue Reading

How important is the style of music a church sings?

How important is the style of music a church sings?

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I read a post yesterday from a blog of a popular ministry that attempted to answer a question from a reader: “How important is the style of music a church sings?” The answer? “The style of music a church sings is relatively unimportant.” After making several simplistic points, the post concluded, “In short, what we… Continue Reading

The beauty of truth

The beauty of truth

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Pilate’s question to Jesus in John 18:30—“What is truth?”—is no less relevant today than it was then. In its most basic definition, something is true if it corresponds with reality.[1] The truth of which the church is the pillar and support (1 Tim 3:15) has been revealed through the written Word of God. Everything contained… Continue Reading

What does “classical” mean?

What does “classical” mean?

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The word “classical” gets thrown around a lot, from descriptions of classical music to classical education to classical culture. But what does it really mean? As with most words, people could use the term, of course, for a whole host of different ideas and connotations. But here is what I think is at the heart… Continue Reading

Knowledge Without Skill

Knowledge Without Skill

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Both of my children take Suzuki strings lessons, Caleb on cello and Kate on violin. Part of the Suzuki philosophy (which happens to match perfectly with our parenting philosophy) is that a parent attends the child’s lesson in its entirety, takes careful notes, and then practices each day at home with the child. In essence,… Continue Reading

You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way

You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way

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Deuteronomy 12:2–7 reveals important principles regarding the way God desires to be worshiped and, specifically, the relationship between the biblical way to worship and the ways of the pagans. You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under… Continue Reading

Stop inviting God to your worship

Stop inviting God to your worship

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We hear it all the time in corporate worship services: “God, we invite you to come as we worship you.” “God, fill this place as we worship.” “God, you are welcome here. Come down as we worship you.” The motivation is, of course, noble: we want to commune with God in worship. We don’t worship… Continue Reading

The Power of Beauty to Educate the Emotions

The Power of Beauty to Educate the Emotions

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Sanctification is a lifelong process for a believer. Although a Christian is freed from the power and penalty of sin, he still must deal with the presence of sin around and within him. If, as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:31, man’s chief end is to glorify God, then the essence of sin is failing to… Continue Reading

How do we explain similarities between Hebrew and pagan worship?

How do we explain similarities between Hebrew and pagan worship?

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There is no doubt that some of the practices of ancient Hebrew worship bear remarkable resemblance to the worship practices of the pagan nations around them. Other nations practiced similar sacrificial systems, had temples and priests, and many scholars note the the idea of covenants established by God with his people is virtually identical to… Continue Reading

The First Worship War

The First Worship War

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The very first conflict following the Fall was a conflict over worship. Genesis 4:3–8 relates how Abel’s offering to the Lord’s was accepted, while Cain’s was not. These offerings were important because they were God’s means for at least temporarily and partially restoring communion with his people. Yet for some reason that is not explicit… Continue Reading

Worship Roots

Worship Roots

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Creation is the very basis of and foundation for worship. The central principle of biblical worship is the fact that it is God-initiated and based upon his self-revelation. There would be no worship had he not created humankind and revealed himself to them. Indeed, this is the very purpose for which man and woman were… Continue Reading

Conservative Christianity: A Reading List

Conservative Christianity: A Reading List

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A friend recently emailed asking for a basic reading list that would introduce an interested individual to conservative Christianity as we articulate it here at Religious Affections Ministries. Here’s what I came with. What would you add? I would start with our A Conservative Christian Declaration as an introduction to the fundamental ideas we believe… Continue Reading

We’re publishing a print hymnal, too!

We’re publishing a print hymnal, too!

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Last week I announced our plans to produce a free, quality online hymnal resource and asked for your help in raising money to support this project. Already we’ve raised a good amount, and I’ve received many emails encouraged by the plans. I have also received several emails asking about a print edition of the hymnal,… Continue Reading

Help fund a new hymn resource

Help fund a new hymn resource

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One question I often hear from fellow conservative pastors and other Christians is, “When are you going to publish a hymnal?” It’s true that, although there are several good hymnals available, there isn’t any one hymnal that satisfies the needs of some churches like those in the Conservative Christian Network, especially since purchasing multiple hymnals… Continue Reading