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

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: What Defines Rap? (Rebuttal)

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: What Defines Rap? (Rebuttal)

This entry is part 13 of 18 in the series Discussion about Christian Rap with Shai Linne You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and read through all the posts. You can find the other posts in this discussion on this page or on the right hand side of this post. This is my rebuttal to Shai’s… Continue Reading

Introducing “A Conservative Christian Declaration”

Introducing “A Conservative Christian Declaration”

This entry is part 1 of 17 in the series A Conservative Christian Declaration You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Click here for the print edition (and Kindle) of this Declaration. To affirm this declaration and join the Conservative Christian Network, click here. Fulfilling a desire I’ve had for some time now, in July, 2013 I gathered together a group of pastors and ministry educators to discuss the future of conservative Christianity. As a result… Continue Reading

Philosophy vs. Application

Philosophy vs. Application

I have strong convictions about church ministry and worship philosophy. I also have strong opinions about certain applications of that philosophy. But these are not the same thing. Neither are they equally important. Philosophical convictions are judgments based on clear, biblical principles. Notice that I did not say that the convictions themselves are necessarily clear,… Continue Reading

Tolkien on the use of archaic language

Tolkien on the use of archaic language

Our family has begun using the New City Catechism as part of our family worship and Bible study time. The catechism is a combined adult/child catechism that adapts many historic catechisms into the 52 question and answer plan. One of the features that the authors note of this catechism is that they retained much of… Continue Reading

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: What Defines Rap?

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: What Defines Rap?

This entry is part 12 of 18 in the series Discussion about Christian Rap with Shai Linne You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and read through all the posts. You can find the other posts in this discussion on this page or on the right hand side of this post. This is my third question to… Continue Reading

Recommended Bibles for Children and Families

Recommended Bibles for Children and Families

This entry is part 1 of 3 in the series Tools for Family Worship You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

The new year brings renewed commitments, and hopefully one of your renewed commitments is dedicated time for family worship. I cannot stress the importance of gathering together as a family to read Scripture, sing, pray, and other profitable spiritual endeavors. Parents are sometimes at a loss as to what are the best resources to use… Continue Reading

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Example of Holy Music (Rebuttal)

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Example of Holy Music (Rebuttal)

This entry is part 11 of 18 in the series Discussion about Christian Rap with Shai Linne You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and read through all the posts. You can find the other posts in this discussion on this page or on the right hand side of this post. This is Shai’s rebuttal and my… Continue Reading

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Example of Holy Music

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Example of Holy Music

This entry is part 10 of 18 in the series Discussion about Christian Rap with Shai Linne You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and read through all the posts. You can find the other posts in this discussion on this page or on the right hand side of this post. This is Shai’s third question to… Continue Reading

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: How Hip-hop is an appropriate medium for communicating God’s truth (Rebuttal)

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: How Hip-hop is an appropriate medium for communicating God’s truth (Rebuttal)

This entry is part 9 of 18 in the series Discussion about Christian Rap with Shai Linne You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and read through all the posts. You can find the other posts in this discussion on this page or on the right hand side of this post. This is my rebuttal to Shai’s… Continue Reading

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: How Hip-hop is an appropriate medium for communicating God’s truth

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: How Hip-hop is an appropriate medium for communicating God’s truth

This entry is part 8 of 18 in the series Discussion about Christian Rap with Shai Linne You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and read through all the posts. You can find the other posts in this discussion on this page or on the right hand side of this post. This is Shai’s answer to my… Continue Reading

Review of A Neglected Grace by Jason Helopoulos

Review of A Neglected Grace by Jason Helopoulos

A Neglected Grace: Family Worship in the Christian Home, by Jason Helopoulos. Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2013. 119 pp. $10.00. “Family worship in the Christian home” is a neglected grace according to author Jason Helopoulos. Helopoulos, Assistant Pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, laments that many Christian families have given into the… Continue Reading

Acts 17 and cultural contextualization

Acts 17 and cultural contextualization

Acts 17 records Paul’s attempt to evangelize three cities, each of which had very different kinds of people. Paul’s audience in Thessalonica was predominantly Jewish. He spent time in the synagogue there speaking to Jews and Jewish proselytes, but it was not a receptive audience. Some did come to Christ, but for the most part,… Continue Reading

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Example of Sinful Music (Rebuttal)

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Example of Sinful Music (Rebuttal)

This entry is part 7 of 18 in the series Discussion about Christian Rap with Shai Linne You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and read through all the posts. You can find the other posts in this discussion on this page or on the right hand side of this post. This is Shai’s rebuttal to my… Continue Reading

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Example of Sinful Music

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Example of Sinful Music

This entry is part 6 of 18 in the series Discussion about Christian Rap with Shai Linne You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and read through all the posts. You can find the other posts in this discussion on this page or on the right hand side of this post. This is Shai’s second question to… Continue Reading

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: How does rap “flavor” its truth content? (Rebuttal)

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: How does rap “flavor” its truth content? (Rebuttal)

This entry is part 5 of 18 in the series Discussion about Christian Rap with Shai Linne You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Update (12/10 6:00am): Shai’s reply is posted below. Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and read through all the posts. You can find the other posts in this discussion on this page or on the right hand… Continue Reading

Gospel-Shaped Worship: A Review of Recent Literature

Gospel-Shaped Worship: A Review of Recent Literature

This article first appeared in Artistic Theologian 2 (2013). Books reviewed: Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice, by Bryan Chapell (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009); Story-Shaped Worship: Following Patterns from the Bible and History, by Robbie F. Castleman (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2013); Rhythms of Grace: How the Church’s Worship Tells the Story of the Gospel, by Mike Cosper (Wheaton:… Continue Reading

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: How does rap “flavor” its truth content?

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: How does rap “flavor” its truth content?

This entry is part 4 of 18 in the series Discussion about Christian Rap with Shai Linne You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and read through all the posts. You can find the other posts in this discussion on the right hand side of this page. This is my first question to Shai and… Continue Reading

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Can Music Be Sinful? (Rebuttal)

Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Can Music Be Sinful? (Rebuttal)

This entry is part 3 of 18 in the series Discussion about Christian Rap with Shai Linne You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and read through all the posts. You can find the other posts in this discussion on the right hand side of this page. This is a rebuttal by… Continue Reading