Old Church Basement

I don’t see anything wrong with the lights on stages
I even love it when the crowd gets loud singing out God’s praises
But every now and then it can get a little complicated
So I remember when I was in that old church basement.

Christians have always sung together – from ancient psalms to modern worship songs (whatever the current ‘modern’ happens to be!) Grand cathedrals have choirs and organs… some churches have stages, a band, lights… I grew up singing unaccompanied hymns from a little black book…

We got together every Wednesday night, about 30 teenagers
My friend Josh bought a cheap guitar and barely knew how to play it
He wasn’t putting on a show
Wasn’t well known, wasn’t trying to be famous
But we sure touched heaven in that old church basement

People come together in a lounge, around a campfire… in an old church basement… no performance, no show, no drama… no-one famous or specially qualified… just people coming together sincerely, honestly… responding to God’s goodness and love… singing God’s praises.

Hallelujah is all I need
When I think of Your goodness and Your love for me
Oh, the joy of my salvation is coming back to me
It’s just an old hallelujah with a new melody

Old folks, looking back on good times singing old well-loved hymns, can rediscover worship and the presence of God – ‘our old hallelujah, with a new melody.’ Young folk, those coming to faith for the first time are singing the old hallelujah of the centuries – just with a new melody.

It might not always be easy… but we all constantly need to sing old hallelujahs with a new enthusiasm, spirit… and melody.

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me…
I once was blind but now I can see…
Over the mountains and the sea, Your river runs with love for me…
Shout to the Lord all the earth, let us sing…
It’s just an old hallelujah with a new melody.