Changing hymn lyrics
Changing the lyrics of hymns we sing has a long, established precedent, and for good reason. If hymns are meant to be genuine expressions of… Read More »Changing hymn lyrics
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.
Martin Luther’s Worship Reforms
At the heart of Martin Luther’s reformation of the Church were his reforms in worship. In celebration of Reformation Day, let us consider his influence.… Read More »Martin Luther’s Worship Reforms
What does it mean to be “conservative”?
The term “conservative” gets thrown around a lot, but do people really know what it means? We’ve progressed to the point, even among those who… Read More »What does it mean to be “conservative”?
Piper on the Sufficiency of Scripture
Continuing to clarify a truly biblical understanding of Sola Scriptura (you can read other posts here and here), I post for your consideration John Piper’s… Read More »Piper on the Sufficiency of Scripture
Is the Bible Enough?
I continue to receive e-mails concerning seemingly more and more common explanations of Sola Scriptura that in effect strip it down to nothing more than… Read More »Is the Bible Enough?
New authors will begin regularly posting on this site
I’m excited to announce that beginning next Monday, October 25, this site will be adding four additional regular authors to our article lineup. Up until… Read More »New authors will begin regularly posting on this site
What Sola Scriptura means, and what it does not mean
In light of some recent sermons about music and the sufficiency of Scripture (about which I’ve received dozens of concerned e-mails), I’d like to link… Read More »What Sola Scriptura means, and what it does not mean
Worshiping Worship
This chorus (written as a parody) reflects how many people approach worship today: Oh, I’m thinking of me praising Jesus, and loving the feeling I… Read More »Worshiping Worship
New Choral Piece: "Psalm 148"
I was recently asked to compose a choir and orchestra piece in honor of Steve Allen’s 25 consecutive years as Music Pastor of First Baptist… Read More »New Choral Piece: "Psalm 148"
New book from Religious Affections Ministries: On Loving God
“You want me to tell you why God is to be loved and how much. I answer, the reason for loving God is God Himself;… Read More »New book from Religious Affections Ministries: On Loving God
Isaac Watts on the perpetuity of a sabbath
Several of the controversies which have risen, with regard to the sabbath, whether jewish or christian, and the holiness of it, though they are not… Read More »Isaac Watts on the perpetuity of a sabbath
The Hymnody of the Christian Church
Here are PDFs and audio from the entire Christian hymnody series: Hymnody of the Church Part 1 | Audio Hymnody of the Church Part 2… Read More »The Hymnody of the Christian Church
Hymnody Today: What Do We Do?
So where does this leave us today? I will conclude with several brief suggestions of we should be striving toward in our choices of hymns… Read More »Hymnody Today: What Do We Do?
Two Roads Diverged
The dethroning of the Church by Reason and the creation of pop culture left the Church in an awkward position. Its cultural influence was non-existent.… Read More »Two Roads Diverged
Hymn advocates aren't always good hymn writers
Benjamin Keach, a Baptist pastor in the late 17th century, is often credited as the first Englishman to provide a well-developed defense of the recovery1… Read More »Hymn advocates aren't always good hymn writers
The Enlightenment and Christian Hymnody
This far in our journey we have witnessed an almost unbroken stream of Judeo-Christian tradition. From King David to Lutheran composer Johann Crüger (1598-1662) we… Read More »The Enlightenment and Christian Hymnody
50% off retail for many helpful worship resources
We’re trying to clear out some of our inventory, so we’re offering pretty significant discounts on several helpful worship resources. Get ’em while they last!… Read More »50% off retail for many helpful worship resources
Reformation Hymns
When Martin Luther (1483—1546) sparked a Reformation of the Church by nailing his Ninety-Five Theses to the Church door at Wittenberg in 1517, he challenged… Read More »Reformation Hymns
The Pre-Tridentine Roman Church
I’ve had some good questions about the Medieval Church resulting from my recent article on medieval hymnody. I’d like to make a few short observations… Read More »The Pre-Tridentine Roman Church
Medieval Hymns
When Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 with the Edict of Milan, and Christianity soon became the religion of the entire empire, the cultural conditions… Read More »Medieval Hymns