Misplaced Focus

Let’s go ahead and address the elephant in the sanctuary: Apparently… we’re singing too hard now. This subject hits close to home because for years, I’ve been side-eyed—or flat-out questioned—for how I sing in Christian spaces. Not “Gospel” enough for the Black church… and needing to “tone it down” in CCM rooms. It’s like I’m always too much or not enough—depending on who’s sharing the stage with me. That’s the hot take that just dropped on The Isaac Carree Show, and listen… I get it. The critique was spicy. “Nobody wanna hear all them runs,” he said. As if gospel music just became too… gospel-y. But before we start editing the anointing out of our vocals, let’s talk about what’s really going on here. Because runs aren’t the problem. Misplaced focus is. We’ve been arguing about musical style for years… gospel vs. CCM, choir robes vs. skinny jeans, tambourines vs. loop pedals. And now we’ve added “vocal intensity” to the list of things dividing the church? Be serious. This Ain’t Just About Singing Let’s be honest. These conversations aren’t really about riffs and runs. They’re about taste. They’re about control. They’re about what makes us feel comfortable. But when did comfort become the goal of worship? Last time I checked, Jesus wasn’t worried about what key we were in… He was looking at our heart posture. We out here policing octaves while people are out there feeling forgotten by the church. We arguing over chord progressions while somebody’s wondering if they’re even worthy to walk back in the building. This ain’t about the music. It’s about the mission. We’ve Lost the Plot Somewhere along the way, we swapped unity for branding. We started worshipping our way of doing church instead of the why behind it. Gospel vs. CCM. Baptist vs. Pentecostal. Suit and tie vs. sweats and sneakers. Meanwhile, Jesus is still over here like, “Love God. Love people.” It’s almost like we forgot: the enemy doesn’t care how we’re divided — just as long as we stay that way. 💯 Maybe the Real Issue Is… Us 👀 Let’s be real: the way someone worships might not be your vibe. Cool. But that doesn’t give us a pass to tear it down. You don’t like all the runs? Fine. But that doesn’t mean they’re doing it wrong. You don’t like the stripped-back acoustic sets? Cool. That doesn’t mean they aren’t anointed. If the fruit is real… if lives are changing, chains are breaking, and people are coming to Christ… maybe it’s not our job to critique how it happened. Maybe it’s just our job to celebrate that it did. So Let’s Get Back to It Let’s put the mic back in its rightful place— not as a weapon for division, but as a tool for worship. Let’s stop majoring in minors. Let’s stop dragging each other over styles and preferences and remember the only real question that matters: Is Jesus being glorified? If the answer is yes, then whether you sing it with a run, a riff, or a raspy whisper… I’m with you. ⸻ Because at the end of the day, love is louder. Unity is stronger. And we all need grace… whether we’re flat-footed or falling out in a key change.