This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

I have written before about how Christian hymns use words and melodies that often capture my mind and heart.

That’s even though I cannot sing a lick.  Thus, words – lyrics – matter.

So it was that I came across a story in the Wall Street Journal that touted the lyrics and melodies of a relatively new Christian song that asks a question, “Is He Worthy?” Then, it provides a quick and sure answer, “He is.”

A very appropriate hymn for this Christmas season.

Here is the sub-head for the Journal story:

“Written by Andrew Peterson and Ben Shive, the worship song has become a staple in Christian churches around the world thanks to its musical sweep and conversational, call-and-response format.”

The Journal’s writer, Barbara Jepson, regularly wrote about classical concerts, recordings, and musicians for the Journal from 1983 until her retirement last year.  This time, in retirement, she wrote about the song, “Is He Worthy.”

Her story started this way:

“More than five decades ago, the spiritual awakening known as the ‘Jesus Movement’ swept through the U.S., bringing hippie culture into evangelical Christian churches, and impacting the sound and feel of worship music.

“Guitars, electronic keyboards and drum sets — previously unthinkable at Sunday morning services — were introduced with far-reaching effect:  Contemporary worship bands now co-exist with organs and choirs at many churches or have replaced them altogether.

“And a sizable body of vibrant praise songs and anthems influenced by folk, country, rock, or gospel has been created.  The lyrics may incorporate poetic imagery and mantra-like repetitions.  The Christian belief in the second coming of Christ is a recurring theme.”

She wrote that “one of the most notable achievements in this still-evolving praise genre is the song ‘Is He Worthy.’”

Released in 2018 on Peterson’s album “Resurrection Letters, Volume I,” which Shive produced, it was quickly copied by Christian mega-star Chris Tomlin.  His version reached No. 12 on Billboard’s “Hot Christian Songs” chart in May 2019 after a 26-week run.

According to Christian Copyright Licensing International, the work has been on its “Top 100 List” for nearly four consecutive years, based upon usage data from churches in North America, the U.K., and Australia.

More from Jepson:

• Like the great hymns of the past, “Is He Worthy?” possesses an ideal pairing of text and music that enhances the worship experience.  Only 4 1/2 minutes in length, the song nonetheless has a majestic sweep to it, with each section flowing seamlessly into the next.
• Although some 21st-century additions to the global repertoire birthed by the “Jesus Movement” have an irksome sameness, “Is He Worthy?” is distinctive in its structure and imagination.
• Inspired by the spoken Anglican liturgy, with its prescribed readings and congregational responses, Peterson uses a question-and-answer format in much of the song.  Tomlin has called “Is He Worthy?” a “game-changer for the church” because of this “conversational approach between the singer and the congregation.”

The question-answer format goes like this.

After an introduction of chords on the piano, a worship leader or soloist poses the first of several questions:  “Do you feel the world is broken?”  The congregation or choir answers, “We do.”

In similar fashion, the second verse continues the dialogue: “Is all creation groaning?”  The answer:  “It is.”

Now, the questions begin shifting from earthbound perceptions to biblically-grounded hope:  “Is a new creation coming?”  “It is.” “Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst?”  “It is.”

Next, Jepson adds, “comes an engaging chorus, sung by all, that moves into the heavenly realms.  To underline the change, the rolling piano accompaniment of the first two verses is replaced by hymn-like chords.  

“The lyrics are drawn from the apostle John’s vision of a dramatic scene that takes place before the throne of God in the fifth chapter of the Biblical book of Revelation.  God is holding a sacred scroll with seven seals.  John weeps because no one is found worthy to open it.  But, one of 24 elders present, informs John that the slain Lamb of God — a reference to the crucified Jesus — is able to do so.

“Is anyone worthy?  Is anyone whole?  Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?  The Lion of Judah, who conquered the grave, He is David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave.  Is He Worthy?  Is He Worthy? Of all blessing and honor and glory?  Is He worthy of this? He is.”

In the third verse, the questions highlight such themes as the enduring love of God and eternal security for believers.  Pounding drums punctuate the music during the repeat of the chorus and the ensuing bridge, helping to raise the song’s emotional pitch a notch:  “From every people and tribe, every nation and tongue,  He has made us a kingdom and priests to God, To reign with the Son.”

And this conclusion from Jepsen:

“This leads to an exhilarating conclusion, as the lyrics repeatedly affirm the worthiness of Christ. ‘Is He Worthy?’ reminds followers of Jesus that, because of what he accomplished by his death and resurrection, our earthly bodies and broken world will ultimately be made new.”

I have often thought that song and hymns can draw us effectively to Christ if they are written well and put to music well.

For me, that is true.

It would be hard for me to cite my favorite song or hymn of the Christian church.  Possible, but hard.

As artificial as the question is, my favorite probably is a hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”  The words lead me to acknowledge again that I have Christ because of what He has done, not what I have earned.

“Is He Worthy?” accomplishes the same objective.