What do you think of Isaac Watts as a dispensationalist?

[agedman]

I desire that this thread spend time reviewing what Scott Aniol wrote in this journal article.

To give a bit of background for those not familiar with him, here is a brief biography from "google"

"Scott Aniol holds a bachelor's degree in church music from Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC), a master's degree in musicology from Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL), and has studied theology at Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Plymouth, MN) and Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary.

He was ordained to to the gospel ministry by First Baptist Church (Rockford, IL) in April of 2004. As the executive director of Religious Affections Ministries, Scott speaks on the subjects of music and worship at various churches and conferences.

His speaking engagements include the Preserving the Truth Conference, Central Seminary's Foundations Conference, International Baptist College, and Bob Jones Seminary. Scott is the author of Worship in Song: a Biblical Approach to Music and Worship (BMH, 2009) and Sound Worship: a Guide to Making Musical Choices in a Noisy World (RAM, 2010)."

​

What I would like to see on this thread is a conversation (rather then debate) about what he presented in this 2011 article: http://scottaniol.com/wp-content/uploads/Aniol2.pdf


There are areas that be informative, may be disputable, and may be confirmed.

As any quality writer of a educational journal contributor, he is heavy on documentation.

 

[TCassidy]

Northern Illinois University

Attended there in 1965.

Central Baptist Theological Seminary

Attended there in 1975.

First Baptist Church (Rockford, IL)

Baptized there and married there.

Small world.

 

[agedman]

Baptized there and married there.

Small world.

I thought it was named after the TV show.

 

[Jerome]

Aniol's Southern Baptist affilation, not mentioned in the OP:

religiousaffections.org/about/scott-aniol/

He is Chair of the Worship Ministry Department at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Scott holds a masters degree in Theological Studies (SWBTS)...and a PhD in Worship Ministry (SWBTS).

 

[agedman]

Aniol's Southern Baptist affilation, not mentioned in the OP:

religiousaffections.org/about/scott-aniol/

Thanks, I figured it wasn’t necessary, but thanks for the update.

What are your thoughts on what he wrote?

 

[Covenanter]

I've always been fond of Isaac Watts - he went to my school, King Edward VI School in Southampton. It was founded in 1553, the year of Edward's death, & we celebrated our fourth centenary a year late (June 4, 1954) because it clashed with Queen Elizabeth's coronation. (June 2, 1953)

The Pastor of the church I went to in Southampton, after my conversion, wrote a special biography of Isaac for his tercentenary in 1974. The church-state effects of the Reformation were still in evidence, as his father was in prison in "God's House Tower" for preaching unlicensed.

Very interesting article which I cannot comment on with regards to the content. I did borrow a library book on Watt's sermons, but found it too heavy going. Very different from his hymns & "Divine Songs for Children" which though I didn't realise as a child, my father was constantly quoting against us. I discovered that years later when I book the book. I've just found it again as we are sorting everything preparing to move. Watch out, grandchildren!

I won't quarrel with his millennialism though I don't agree.

I note the comment on his questionable trinitarian belief, except to quote the hymn: "Join all the glorious names:"

"Where reason fails, with all her powers,
there faith prevails, & love adores."​

 

[Martin Marprelate]

The Pastor of the church I went to in Southampton, after my conversion, wrote a special biography of Isaac for his tercentenary in 1974.

So you were at Above Bar Church under David Fountain? I have his book on Watts, and very good it is too!

I think Watts' hymnody is at odds with Dispensationalism. Here is one of my favourites, a paraphrase of Psalm 122:

'How pleased and blessed was I
To hear the people cry,
"Come let us seek our Lord today!"
Yes, with a cheerful zeal,
We haste to Zion's hill
And there our vows and homage pay.

Zion, thrice happy place,
Adorned with wondrous grace,
And walls of strength embrace you round.
In you our tribes appear,
To pray and praise and hear
The sacred Gospel's joyful sound.

There David's greater Son
Has fixed His royal throne,
He sits for grace and judgement there.
He bids the saint be glad,
He makes the sinner sad,
And humble souls rejoice with fear.

May peace attend your gate,
And joy within you wait
To bless the soul of every guest!
The man that seeks your peace,
That wishes your increase,
a thousand blessings on him rest!

My tongue repeats her vows,
Peace to this sacred house!
For there my friends and kindred dwell;
And, since my gracious God
Makes you His blest abode,
My soul shall ever love you well.'

Watts is equating 'Zion' with the church and the tribes of Israel with the congregation. I'm not sure how that squares with Dispensationalism.

 

[agedman]

So you were at Above Bar Church under David Fountain? I have his book on Watts, and very good it is too!

I think Watts' hymnody is at odds with Dispensationalism. Here is one of my favourites, a paraphrase of Psalm 122:

'How pleased and blessed was I
To hear the people cry,
"Come let us seek our Lord today!"
Yes, with a cheerful zeal,
We haste to Zion's hill
And there our vows and homage pay.

Zion, thrice happy place,
Adorned with wondrous grace,
And walls of strength embrace you round.
In you our tribes appear,
To pray and praise and hear
The sacred Gospel's joyful sound.

There David's greater Son
Has fixed His royal throne,
He sits for grace and judgement there.
He bids the saint be glad,
He makes the sinner sad,
And humble souls rejoice with fear.

May peace attend your gate,
And joy within you wait
To bless the soul of every guest!
The man that seeks your peace,
That wishes your increase,
a thousand blessings on him rest!

My tongue repeats her vows,
Peace to this sacred house!
For there my friends and kindred dwell;
And, since my gracious God
Makes you His blest abode,
My soul shall ever love you well.'

Watts is equating 'Zion' with the church and the tribes of Israel with the congregation. I'm not sure how that squares with Dispensationalism.

Perhaps you missed the careful distinction Watts made between the people of the place and the place?

Watts understood both the second coming and millennium and embraced that teaching.

Imo, it is one reason why some of his contemporaries pushed back at his hymns. They confronted with the Scriptures the lack of truth that some even to this day desire to so cling.

The psalm (122) and these verses by Watts look for that time, place, and the people.

Not just the people.

 

[agedman]

Perhaps you missed the careful distinction Watts made between the people of the place and the place?

Watts understood both the second coming and millennium and embraced that teaching.

Imo, it is one reason why some of his contemporaries pushed back at his hymns. They were confronted with the veracity of the Scriptures about the lack of truth that some even to this day desire to so cling.

The psalm (122) and these verses by Watts look for that time, place, and the people.

Not just the people.

 

[Covenanter]

David Fountain was at Spring rd Evangelical church, Sholing, 5 minutes walk. We were married there.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

David Fountain was at Spring rd Evangelical church, Sholing, 5 minutes walk. We were married there.

Ah! I should have looked it up before I posted. Sorry!

 

[Covenanter]

David Fountain was at Spring rd Evangelical church, Sholing, 5 minutes walk. We were married there.

My mother said, "Wish you would go to a proper church." Our wedding was her only visit to the church.

Do you know Southampton?