The book is based on research done on why so many 18-22 year olds leave the church, and why the ones who don't leave stay. I've been a part of several conversations with many different people about what it takes to reach teenagers as well as the 18-22 age group. These conversations usually leave me frustrated, because many people believe it's a matter of style--especially worship style. Towards the beginning of Essential Church?, the authors (Thom and Sam Rainer) address the issue:
Worship style is a much-debated issue. Some handle the conversation with love, only wanting to worship God appropriately. Others get red-faced at the sound of anything other than their end of the musical spectrum. The issue does carry some weight, but it has little to do with people leaving the church.
Young adults leave because they lose a connection to the community of believers. Style of worship plays a small part in the creation of this community. In other words, it's not the music. Rather, the people of the church make meaningful relationships, a sense of connection, and a comfortable place to gather (Essential Church?, 64).
Style is important. But it's only important insofar as it helps us communicate Jesus' Good News to teenagers and young adults. If we have a style that does not effectively communicate Jesus' love, then it needs to change. But discussions about style usually center around what attracts teenagers. If we are passionate about following Jesus and about teaching students to follow him as well, if we are really loving them because we believe that Jesus loves them and that he first loved us, then they'll be attracted. And they'll stay. It's not about style. It's about being a community that really communicates and exemplifies what it means to follow Jesus. But if we don't put Jesus at the center and do everything we can as leaders to follow him, teenagers and young adults will leave--no matter how great our worship music is--because they have nothing to stay for.
