--- In bachforguitar@yahoogroups.com, "Alan Melvin" <alan@...> wrote:
>
> --- In bachforguitar@yahoogroups.com, "a_xelinsky" <axe_linsky@>
> wrote:
> >
> > ..., and I don't think he was absolutely christian, his works
> > offer a deeper message, not just the "good crhistian" image he
> > presents at simple view, but, that is other topic, ...
>
> One often hears the word "Christian" used to mean "Christ-like", as
> in "She's not very Christian," or "He's a good Christian". However,
> people of the Christian faith, such as Bach, usually don't mean
this
> when they call themselves Christians. That would be really
arrogant!
> Instead, we call ourselves Christians simply because we believe in
> and worship one God, who manifests himself as the Father (who is in
> Heaven), and as the Son (who became a man and suffered to free us
> from our sins), and as the Holy Spirit (who is always present
within
> and around us). We call ourselves Christians because we have
invited
> God into our life and opened our hearts and minds to Him. We can't
> really measure "how Christian" we are, but by becoming Christians
we
> turn ourselves in the right direction, towards becoming Christ-
like,
> and start to grow in our relationship with God.
>
> In the case of Bach, he was not only a great composer, but a
> Christian musician who said that "music's only purpose should be
for
> the glory of God and the recreation of the human spirit." I believe
> that this strong spiritual attitude towards music makes Bach
special
> among the great composers.
>
> - Alan
>

BJ: You are right, Alan. Bach was completely devoted
to honoring God in music. But it wasn't just a
matter of musicianship. It is interesting to note
that when Bach wrote for a secular nobleman and was
in his employ, he attended a Reformed Calvinist church,
rather than a Lutheran. So apparently his faith was
not just nominal, following societal norms, but
had conviction and substance beyond the ordinary.

Bob