The Purpose of Music in Missions
The purpose of culture is not to reach the lost or give authentic expression for Christians; it is to express and cultivate right worship. In… Read More »The Purpose of Music in Missions
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.
Defining pop culture
Unfortunately, according to Cecil Sharp and Vaughan Williams, folk music as an art is largely dead, and this provides the first evidence of a distinction… Read More »Defining pop culture
Distinguishing high culture from folk culture
A primary goal of Vaughan Williams was, of course, to compose art music. His many hours finding and indexing folk tunes resulted in the use… Read More »Distinguishing high culture from folk culture
Differences and Universals in Music Across Cultures
A missionary cannot properly evaluate the differences among cultural expressions until he has understood their universals. At the root of the most thoughtful defenses of… Read More »Differences and Universals in Music Across Cultures
Vaughan William’s interest in English folk songs
An interest in English folk songs emerged in England toward the end of the nineteenth century. By 1898 the Folk Song Society was founded, and… Read More »Vaughan William’s interest in English folk songs
Missions and Music
One of missionaries most challenging issues is what kind of music to use as they plant indigenous churches. Two extremes exist: on the one hand… Read More »Missions and Music
See the Babe in Manger Lowly
See the babe in manger lowly, with His mother, meek and mild. Here the Godhead now incarnate, Wholly God and yet a child. Lying in… Read More »See the Babe in Manger Lowly
Conservative Christians will be committed to transmitting these worship forms to future generations
Conservative Christianity, at its heart, is committed to preserving transcendent ideas rooted in the very nature and character of God. It seeks to accomplish this… Read More »Conservative Christians will be committed to transmitting these worship forms to future generations
Distinguishing High, Folk, and Pop Culture
A common error exists frequently in contemporary discussions of the use of folk idioms as a compositional element in art music. Many authors today equate… Read More »Distinguishing High, Folk, and Pop Culture
Conservative Christians will be committed to worship forms that have been nurtured within the community of faith
In order to conserve transcendent ideas about God, conservatives are committed to worship regulated by God’s Word, and they are also committed to discerning between… Read More »Conservative Christians will be committed to worship forms that have been nurtured within the community of faith
Should western music be transplanted to missions church plants?
On Saturdays we repost articles from the archives that apply to current issues. The following article deals with what music should be used for indigenous… Read More »Should western music be transplanted to missions church plants?
Conservative Christians will be committed to worship forms that foster ordinate affection toward God
If we truly desire to be governed by and to preserve transcendent ideas about God, then our worship must be regulated by God’s Word. This… Read More »Conservative Christians will be committed to worship forms that foster ordinate affection toward God
Should a missionary simply adopt a culture’s music when church planting?
On Saturdays we repost articles from the archives that apply to current issues. The following article discusses whether a missionary should simply adopt a culture’s… Read More »Should a missionary simply adopt a culture’s music when church planting?
Multiculturalism veiled as "Missional"
I thought I’d post a helpful discourse by Dave Doran in his journal article on “Market-Driven Ministry,” which answers well recent justification of a neutral… Read More »Multiculturalism veiled as "Missional"
Conservative Christians will be committed to worship regulated by the Word of God
If, as I have suggested, Christian conservatism stands upon two primary pillars (a commitment to align one’s ideas with transcendent absolutes that are rooted in God himself… Read More »Conservative Christians will be committed to worship regulated by the Word of God
Can biblical principles about music be applied across cultures?
On Saturdays we repost articles from the archives that apply to current issues. The following article deals with the issue of cross-cultural musical meaning. The… Read More »Can biblical principles about music be applied across cultures?
Book Review: Prophetic untimeliness: A challenge to the idol of relevance
book review by Phil E. Suiter, Ph.D. Guiness, O. (2003). Prophetic untimeliness: A challenge to the idol of relevance. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. One… Read More »Book Review: Prophetic untimeliness: A challenge to the idol of relevance
Conservative Pillar II: Nurturing Tradition
Christian conservatism stands upon two primary pillars: 1) a commitment to align one’s ideas with transcendent absolutes that are rooted in God himself; and, 2)… Read More »Conservative Pillar II: Nurturing Tradition
T. David Gordon endorses Worship in Song
I had the the pleasure of meeting T. David Gordon, author of the excellent new book Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns, a few weeks ago… Read More »T. David Gordon endorses Worship in Song
Conservative Pillar I: Transcendent Absolutes
I have suggested that the twin pillars of conservatism are 1) an affirmation of transcendent absolute principles of truth, goodness, and beauty; and 2) a… Read More »Conservative Pillar I: Transcendent Absolutes