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 first question in our discussion goes to Shai Linne: Scott, in your recent post where you explained your comments on the NCFIC panel, you… Read More »Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Can Music Be Sinful?
Over the next couple of weeks, Shai Linne (bio) and I will have a public discussion about Christian rap here on this site. I am… Read More »Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Introduction
Since Shai Linne is a busy church planter/assistant pastor, and I am a busy seminary professor in the last week of the semester, we’re finding… Read More »Some answers to questions about my views on Reformed rap
A firestorm erupted online last week after video of a panel discussion in which I participated at the NCFIC “Worship of God” conference went viral,… Read More »Explanation of my comments about Reformed rap on the NCFIC panel
The following is the sermon I preached this morning in our church to kick off the Advent season: Audio You don’t have to turn on… Read More »Coming Hope
I have a theory I’d like to explore more at a later time, but I thought I’d offer some thoughts about it today considering the… Read More »Thankfulness as a central worship affection
I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion at the Worship of God Conference sponsored by the National Center for Family Integrated Churches.… Read More »Panel discusses Reformed Rap
Worship in Song: A Biblical Approach to Music and Worship, by Scott Aniol. Winona Lake, IL: BMH Books, 2009. Worship in Song: A Biblical Approach… Read More »Review of Worship in Song by Paige Patterson
The following is the paper I presented yesterday at the national meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society: PDF Audio Version Most church leaders readily recognize… Read More »The Mission of Worship: An Assessment of the Missional Church Movement’s Impact Upon Evangelical Worship Philosophy and Practice
This article first appeared on The Artistic Theologian, the online theological journal of Southwestern Seminary’s School of Church Music. The Lord Jesus Christ gave the church… Read More »The significance of worship for the Great Commission
One of the most difficult matters to explain when dealing with issues of music in worship is how music communicates. I think most people intuitively… Read More »How does music mean?
Most church leaders readily recognize that God has tasked churches with several different purposes, yet how those purposes work together has equally mystified them. One… Read More »What is the relationship between worship and evangelism?
A remarkable statement from Rod Dreher in a disturbingly fascinating attempt by him at some notes toward a theology of rock. Here’s the quote in… Read More »“Not even prayer, at its heights, can cause me to lay all my cares aside like a great rock song.”
W. Robert Godfrey provides1 a helpful look at how the Pentecostal movement impacted evangelicalism’s understanding of the nature of emotion (particularly physical expressiveness) in worship.… Read More »Pentecostalism, emotion, and worship
Debates over worship usually center on the issue of form. “Don’t elevate form over content,” the progressives cry. “Content is what is important; it really doesn’t matter… Read More »Form and content are not easily separable
I am thrilled to announce the publication of a new daily devotional for the Christmas season by Pastor Taigen Joos! This devotional is perfect for… Read More »New Christmas devotional for families or individuals!
Which of the following scenario is a more meaningful worship experience? The 100 member choir and 50 piece orchestra combine in a rousing performance of… Read More »What “moves” you in worship?
Quentin Faulkner’s analysis of the impact of Romantic aesthetic philosophy on the church and its music is enlightening (pun intended) and helpful: The nineteenth century was… Read More »Music: a Theological Orphan
The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry met recently in Nashville to discuss the relative merits of offering Communion online. You can find detailed background… Read More »Online Communion?
One of the most difficult matters when having debates over aesthetics (that is, beauty and meaning in the arts) is the terms we employ. For… Read More »Subjectively universal