In our current cultural climate, we seek not to offend. We are careful to be considerate of other people’s preferences, values, and belief systems. At least, we try to be. This can lead us to refrain from expressing anything that we actually believe, especially if it happens to be religious in nature.
Recently, I was looking up information about Johann Sebastian Bach online, and I wanted to find a quote of his. As I have started playing with AI tools a little bit, I asked AI to give me a list of quotes by J.S. Bach. Interestingly, 3 out of the 4 quotes AI came up with referenced God:
“Music is an agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul.”
“I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music.”
“The final aim and reason of all music is nothing other than the glorification of God and the refreshment of the spirit.”
“Without my morning coffee I'm just like a dried up piece of roast goat.”
(I had to look up that last one to see if it was actually something Bach had said. It was!)
I wanted to put a quote on a new resource I’m putting together for piano teachers, and at first, I hesitated to put down something “religious” in nature, thinking that it might discourage teachers from downloading the resource and using it in their studios. After all, no one wants to offend.
However, after giving it a little more thought, I realized that Bach’s faith in God was so much a part of who he was and why he composed that I couldn’t not include one of his “religious” quotes. In fact, at the beginning of many of his compositions, Bach wrote “J.J” or “Jesu Juva,” Latin for “Jesus, help.” And at the end he frequently added “S.D.G.” or “Soli Deo Gloria,” meaning “To God alone be the glory.”
Rather than trying so hard not to offend, we need to be bold about speaking what is true. Johann Sebastian Bach loved God and made it his aim to honor and glorify Him in his music. To omit his faith from the conversation is to omit the very soul of his artistry. As teachers, we have the opportunity to present historical context honestly and respectfully. Including a quote that reflects Bach’s devotion isn’t a statement of exclusion; it’s an invitation to understand the depth from which his music flows. In a culture that fears offense, let’s not be afraid to share what is true and to honor the Source of the music.
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