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.
So here are the primary points of my argument: Culture is the behavior of a people. The formation of certain kinds of behaviors falls squarely… Read More »Practice Makes Perfect: Culture and the Liturgies of Life
Over the past several weeks I have been making the argument that in order to shape the behavior–the culture–of a people, we must give attention… Read More »Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
We saw last week that in order to counteract the negative effects of worldly liturgies, the liturgies of our churches must be shaped by Scripture.… Read More »Reenactment
Last week I mentioned that we are inevitably shaped by worldly liturgies, and so we need something to counteract this. This is where it will… Read More »Corporate Worship is Formative
Our aim over the past several weeks has been to discover how Christians can cultivate higher inclinations toward what is true and good, but we must… Read More »Worldly Liturgies
Behavior is shaped by liturgies because, as Lewis stated, our inclinations are organized through trained habits, and habits are formed through rituals. And it is… Read More »The Form of the Liturgy
Perhaps one of the best ways to help us contemplate how behavior is shaped in the way that I have been explaining over the past several… Read More »The People’s Work
The following is an excerpt from By the Waters of Babylon: Worship in a Post-Christian Culture by Scott Aniol (Kregel, 2015). By the waters of… Read More »Introduction to By the Waters of Babylon
Last week I suggested that data transmission alone does not create disciples. Rather, we must focus upon the heart’s inclinations in order to shape one’s… Read More »Habits
Last week I argued that culture is essentially the behavior of a people. Here is the second peg to the argument I am developing over these… Read More »Make Disciples
Here are some endorsements for my new book, By the Waters of Babylon: Worship is a Post-Christian Culture: “Scott Aniol’s book contributes to several discussions at… Read More »Endorsements for By the Waters of Babylon
I am pleased to announce the publication of my next book, By the Waters of Babylon: Worship in a Post-Christian Culture, published by Kregel Publcations! Here’s… Read More »New Book! By the Waters of Babylon: Worship in a Post-Christian Culture
Can you help us send copies of A Conservative Christian Declaration to a conference for pastors in Kenya? We have had a request from missionary Dan… Read More »Help send copies of A Conservative Christian Declaration to Kenya
Evangelicals today are enamored with culture. Visit any Christian blog or pick up a catalogue of recent Christian books, and you will likely find discussions… Read More »Culture and the Liturgies of Life
Conservative evangelicals admirably repudiate emergent leaders who argue that both content and form must be contextualized; evangelicals insist that since God’s Word is inspired and… Read More »The Aesthetic Nature of Truth
Bob Kaulfin is now saying what many of us have been practicing for years. Glad to see it: A Call for Musical Pastors | Worship… Read More »Kauflin calls for dropping the term “worship leader” in favor of “music pastor”
There is a lot of talk today about cultural transformation. This has led to discussions about whether such a thing is part of the mission… Read More »Is “cultural transformation” part of a church’s mission?
Last week I made the argument that all pastors and church musicians (or “worship leaders”) should give themselves to the study of worship, hymnology, and… Read More »Worship, hymnology, and philosophy of ministry reading list for pastors and church musicians
A primary focus of my ministry is teaching courses in the history and theology of worship, congregational song, and philosophy of ministry to future (and often… Read More »Why pastors and church musicians need to study worship, hymnology, and philosophy of ministry
Yesterday I had the opportunity to present a special library lecture on the topic of family worship. I emphasized the importance of both welcoming children… Read More »How do children learn to worship?