which signaled the opening of floodgates and the shifting of paradigms . These songs taught millions of us how to hold space in new ways . They reminded us that God was still a God who was doing something new , and showed us how to conceive of what church could be without our limitations and assumptions . They pointed us toward a horizon full of mysterious and wonderful possibilities . With Cutting Edge , Delirious ? had gone before us into something bigger and bolder than we ’ d known was “ allowed ” in church .
It was a real rallying point .
And in those days , there was a sense in the air that anything was possible .
“ Heaven ,” “ Bliss ,” “ See the Star ,” “ Gravity ,” and the achingly beautiful “ It ’ s O . K .” - the lyrics of which caused some degree of scandal and controversy among American Evangelicals at the time . My personal favorite was the haunting “ Beautiful Sun ,” which I made into a church song even though the chords and melody were more than people were used to in church services . It was a staple of the college church I pastored , and it moves me to this day .
These songs , while often not considered congregational at the time , motivated my own moments of deepest devotion and meditation , and became the sort of worship that I wished church could grow to embrace . There was a span of months in ’ 99 where all I really listened to was Mezzamorphis and Radiohead . But interestingly , the room I had within me to embrace something like the Mezzamorphis and Glo albums is room I owe to Delirious ?, who helped me to make that room in the first place . The Cutting Edge sessions had paved the way , and Delirious ? had continued to expand my vocabulary for what church music could do .
Looking back on that output and that moment , I highly recommend any songwriter today explore this songwriting and catalog . For younger songwriters and leaders especially , it is so important to know whose shoulders you ’ re standing on . And there is still such a wealth of illumination and inspiration to be found in that material - from novel musical concepts and arrangements , to daring lyric choices which are at once raw and refined . Chief writers Martin Smith and Stu G had a way of being natural and conversational with God that manages to still feel ahead of its time .
Remembering the Cutting Edge era 25 years later , I ’ m reminded that we need to be poets of the present and the future . The prophetic calling speaks not only to what is , but to what can be and should be . We ’ re long overdue for a fresh outpouring of that magnitude ( or greater !), and for new adventures in uncharted waters , as we continue to provide soundtrack and language to the Kingdom taking shape around us . We need cutting edge songs .
Because God is a God of the cutting edge .
“ Beautiful Sun ”
I ’ ve never forgotten it .
Cutting Edge truly was just that . A groundswell
Kevin MacDougall Worship leader , published and recorded songwriter , musician and podcast producer . macdougall . k @ gmail . com