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This is less about liturgy than about theology. And this - the church - is the most important battleground in culture today, imho, and bears most of the blame for the slow, agonizing death of Western culture that we are all painfully witnessing. That's why I'm spending so much time on the subject.

Consider this: Do you respect someone who is a "yes-man"? What message are we sending to the broader pagan culture if we tell them we believe people can get saved whenever they want? They can go and tear down culture, commit fornication, kill babies, and then come "make their decision" later in life.

Also, when we use music patterned after the world, we send the message that God doesn't care how we worship him, that the most important thing is getting large numbers of people. The pagans see this. Why should they fear such a God, Who lets anything go, and restrain their lives accordingly?

I must give an account before God one day, and so must you. My sin may be that I have shown too little charity, and this troubles me. Frankly, there's no reason why God should let any one of us into Heaven, and we certainly take this for granted, this, our own utter rotteness and moral bankruptcy and God's condescending, umerited grace. But Truth and Love must unite; one cannot destroy the other.

Also, when we use music patterned after the world...

What do you suggest, hmmm?

Also, when we use music patterned after the world, we send the message that God doesn't care how we worship him, that the most important thing is getting large numbers of people. The pagans see this. Why should they fear such a God, Who lets anything go, and restrain their lives accordingly?

You do realize that the majority of your beloved old hymns are set to the tune of barroom drinking songs of their day, don't you?