Scripture-Formed Music
Last week I mentioned the fact that there has been a resurgence of sorts in recent times of emphasis on the disciple-forming power of gospel-shaped… Read More »Scripture-Formed Music
Articles on Aesthetics
Transformation through the Word
Last week I made the point that discipleship, which is the mission Christ gave his church, involves more than (though no less than) data transmission.… Read More »Transformation through the Word
Music That Is Intrinsically Good
The “worship wars” have now ceased, and many people are mostly happy about the cessation. Some of us are less happy, however, because those wars—like… Read More »Music That Is Intrinsically Good
The Value of Beauty
What possible value can the study of beauty deliver? Isn’t this fiddling while Rome burns, counting daffodil petals while barbarians lay siege to the city?… Read More »The Value of Beauty
Beauty in the Hebrew Bible
Few Christians would say that beauty is unbiblical. After all, they vaguely remember references to “the beauty of holiness” or the desire “to behold the… Read More »Beauty in the Hebrew Bible
The importance of cultural discernment in Christian education
If Christian educators are intent upon educating their students with truth, both its factual content and the way the truth is imagined, then they must commit to utilize… Read More »The importance of cultural discernment in Christian education
Christians and Critical Judgments
Most Christians are happy to accept the authority of expert opinion. What is instructive to note is which domains of knowledge they are comfortable to… Read More »Christians and Critical Judgments
Fittingness
Last week I argued that if we believe in verbal-plenary inspiration, then the meaning of the aesthetic forms we employ in our contemporary worship must accurately… Read More »Fittingness
Aesthetic Correspondence
In this series of essays, I have argued that Scripture presents God’s truth to us, not merely in didactic propositions, but also (in fact, mostly!)… Read More »Aesthetic Correspondence
Translating the Aesthetic Forms of Scripture
In By the Waters of Babylon, I make a brief statement about how the aesthetic forms of Scripture should guide and regulate worship forms today. In… Read More »Translating the Aesthetic Forms of Scripture
Verbal, Plenary Inspiration and the Aesthetics of Scripture
A couple of friends asked for clarification and explanation of a claim I make in By the Waters of Babylon, in which I argue that the… Read More »Verbal, Plenary Inspiration and the Aesthetics of Scripture
Biblical Authority and the Aesthetics of Scripture
I’d like to take a few posts over the next several weeks to respond to one criticism of something I wrote, but did not develop,… Read More »Biblical Authority and the Aesthetics of Scripture
The Green Book
Poor Alex and Martin. Misters King and Ketley had no idea that their forgettable English textbook would unleash one of the twentieth century’s most eloquent… Read More »The Green Book
How important is the style of music a church sings?
I read a post yesterday from a blog of a popular ministry that attempted to answer a question from a reader: “How important is the… Read More »How important is the style of music a church sings?
Worship, hymnology, and philosophy of ministry reading list for pastors and church musicians
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
Why pastors and church musicians need to study worship, hymnology, and philosophy of ministry
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