Rebecca Rubert 12/9/98 English 30
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." II Corinthians 4:7
“Like a Child”
Having compared their music to a banana split, the band Jars of Clay has
sweetened both Christian and non-Christian audiences with their music. As one of the
only Christian bands to dive into the secular world, Jars of Clay is unique. Though originally a Christian band, Jars of Clay was surprised at the success of their single,
“Flood,” in the secular market (Hefner 1). Both Christians and non-Christians alike have
often criticized them for crossing over into the secular realm. However, they are not
looking for fame or for money. Unlike Christian artists who delve into secular music with
albums geared to a more integrated audience, the band wants to have fun playing their
music as well as reach out to an audience who would not normally listen to a Christian
influence (Lutes 2).
Charlie Lowell, Dan Haseltine, Matt Bronleewe and Stephen Mason met at
Greenville College while studying Contemporary Christian Music. As an assignment for
their recording class, they recorded a few songs together. They eventually played some
of these songs for friends and in clubs in the area. On a whim, they decided to enter a
contest sponsored by the Contemporary Christian Music magazine for the best new
Christian band, and they won (“The History” 2). With this instant recognition, they
signed with Essential Records, a recording company, and their single, “Flood,” was given to the Silvertone division of the company to be released to alternative radio. Their song
“Flood” had immediate success, though few people outside of the Christian music scene
had ever heard of them before. But in the Christian scene, they won two Dove awards for
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Best New Artist and Best Group of the Year and sold 1.5 million copies of their first album, which was self-titled (Hefner 1). Though their popularity soared, their success in the secular scene is very controversial.
Many Christians feel that Jars of Clay has not lived up to the image of a Christian band because they crossed over into the secular scene. I, too, at first, felt that they were
“selling out.” This opinion came about when I was driving in the car with my mom listening to a modern rock radio station. “That was the new song from the band Jars of
Clay entitled, “Flood”, announced the radio DJ.
“What?” I exclaimed to my mom. “They played on a concert venue with Michael
W. Smith.”
“Well, he did do some secular music,” my mom chimed in.
“This concert was a Christian concert, and from what I’ve heard, Jars of Clay is alternative Christian rock. I can’t believe they were played on a secular radio station.”
Among Christians who listen to secular rock music, this was a familiar scene.
When “Flood” hit the number two spot on secular charts, many Christians were surprised and even cynical (Hefner 1). Some Christian retailers pulled Jars of Clay merchandise from their shelves (“Out of the Jar” 1). And the group’s manager, Randy Lovelady, remarked about the cynicism, “I can either have beer or Bibles, but not both,” (“Out of the Jar” 1). To the band, it seems like everyone is questioning their motives and reasons.
Even the best friend of one band member, Steve Mason, hinted that they might be selling out (Lutes 1). But the people who are most cynical of their work are mainly the parents of teenagers who listen to their music. Wary of anything heard on secular radio stations, these parents tend to think of Jars of Clay as fake or wannabes.
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The criticism is not unfounded. Jars of Clay has opened a few shows for Sting
and many of their opening bands, such as The Samples, have been non-Christian bands
(Lutes 1 “The History” 5). After the opening band, one woman almost left because the
obscene lyrics of the songs they played offended her so much (Lutes 3). Upon being
convinced to stay, the women told the band, “I realized there are times when the Word
and the world really do need to touch,” (Lutes 3). And the secular opening bands are
only a part of the controversy. In addition to being played on mainstream radio, the
music video, “Flood,” was played on MTV and VH1, stations not known for their
morality.
The band itself doesn’t agree with the secular industry’s motives. Matt Odmark,
who replaced Matt Bronleewe when the rest of the band decided to move to Nashville,
said “The secular industry isn’t designed to support a ministry; it’s designed to sell
records,” (Halverson 2). But they have reasons, or explanations really, that explain why
they crossed over.
The primary reason why Jars of Clay decided to swim in the secular waters was to
give non-Christians loving exposure to Christian themes. Burnt-out teenagers, turned
away from their faith because there were too many people telling them what to do and
what to believe in, are the main targets of the band. Jars of Clay believes that one has to
“discover” the faith by themselves, and shoving theology down one’s throat hinders this
(Halverson 1). The band members want to consider themselves “bridge builders”
between Christian and secular music “where the world and the Word [the Bible] meet,”
according to Steve Mason (Hefner 3). “Christianity is completely relevant in a 20th century world,” Matt Odmark remarks while defending the band’s goal in the secular
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Christian audience by going secular (Lutes 3).
Because they feel that God has led them to this purpose, Jars of Clay is not concerned with the fame and money associated with being popular. They just want to have be themselves and give non-Christian kids exposure to the Word. In fact, the popularity wore them out. Matt Odmark said, “You feel like you were in the middle of something really incredible and amazing, but at the same time it was sucking every last piece of your energy out of you,” (Hefner 3). In consequence, they just wanted to fit in with themselves, not with other people. The music is “by the people and for the people,” affirmed Steve Mason (Halverson 1). This whirlwind did bring them a lot of fame and money, which they do hope to retain with the release of their second album. Entitled
“Much Afraid”, the band was “much afraid” that it wouldn’t have the same impact on the music scene as the first album. However, they enjoyed making the album, a priority when making the album (Hefner 5). Whenever mass attention was given to them,
Michael W. Smith, with whom they toured in 1996, would keep them down to earth by reminding them of why they were doing all the touring and all the wearying performances (Hefner 3). Smith remarks, “When all those things started happening…I just tried to keep discussion going consistently with them on what does it mean to be a steward of all this?” (Hefner 3).
What has been the most amazing aspect of their fame is that they are the only
Christian band who has been successful in the secular alternative rock scene. Bands like
MXPX have tried, but their music is really secular in nature (Orteza 1). The same is true for Amy Grant whose music, at least on the last three albums, has not been labeled as
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Christian or non-Christian. For Amy Grant, the point was not to make an album geared
towards any audience. The point was to exhibit the songs she wrote. The songs released
to secular radio do not have any eternal significance. She did not write for any specific audience (Rumbug 1). This is different from the success of Jars of Clay, who became popular through a completely Christian song, “Flood” (Hefner 3). They did not try to play down their faith for a secular audience. And although the song was so popular, they did not let this popularity goad them to becoming secular artists.
Often people misunderstand Christian artists who have dipped into the secular sea. They tend to group artists like MXPX, Jars of Clay and Amy Grant into one category. Apart from appealing to different types of people (MXPX is enjoyed by punk teenagers, and Amy Grant’s pop tunes appeal to adults), the purpose of each is different.
MXPX has pretty much become entirely secular (Orteza 1). Amy Grant concentrates on making people happy. Commenting on one of her secular hits, “Lucky One,” Amy Grant says, “I recorded it because it was a reason to smile; it was a happy song,” (Rumburg 1).
Jars of Clay wants to give non-Christians exposure to Christian music (Hefner 3
Rumburg 1). For cynical Christians who think all cross over artists are sell-outs, this distinction must be made. Though MXPX and Amy Grant can hardly be considered sell- outs, Jars of Clay is the only band who has stayed true to their faith. Their purpose for playing is God and his plan, striving to influence teenagers and young adults with their music.
In playing their music, Jars of Clay has managed to remain humble in spite of intense fame and popularity. They picked their name from Second Corinthians 4:7 in the
New Testament of the Bible which says, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to
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show that this all-surpassing power in from God and not from us.” To them this verse
means that we (as Christians) are frail bodies, like clay, that can be filled with the treasure, or Word, of God. God does not consider us ornamented bowls; rather we are ordinary vessels, plain and quaint. This especially keeps them humble as they are reminded that they are compared to delicate kitchenware, easily breakable (“The History”
1). In addition, the title to their second album, “Much Afraid,” came from their
realization of how much fear motivates one’s life (Lutes 4). Jars of Clay recognized the
fear of producing a sophomore album, and they want people to remember that God will
bring you through the tough times (Lutes 4).
More than anything else, Jars of Clay wants to have fun. They enjoy making
music, and they originally started playing together for fun and for the enjoyment of
friends even after they fulfilled the requirements of their recording class (“The History”
1). In some ways, they are still child-like. They order chocolate chip pancakes and soda
for breakfast. They describe their music using a banana split metaphor. They have the
banana foundation of a musical backbone with a scoop of traditional vanilla and classic
chocolate. But the third flavor is wacky-maybe pina colada. And it’s topped off with
whipped cream (Halverson 2). Only a youthful band could compare their music to a
fountain creation. Their song, “Like a Child” can describe them well. Not only do they
sometimes still seem like kids, but also they are children of the Lord, and they seek to do
His will with “Faith like a child”.
One can also observe this youthfulness in the band’s appearance and lack of
experience in the music industry. Though passionate about music, they had no idea how
to put on a show (“Out of the Jar” 1). They were coached endlessly on stage etiquette
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because before hitting it big, they had only ever performed on small café stages (“Out of the Jar” 1). Trained as classical musicians, “Haseltine hadn’t sang a lick” before they became big, according to Steve Mason (“Out of the Jar” 1). This classical training, however, influenced the lush acoustic arrangements on both of their albums (“Out of the
Jar” 1). Furthermore, the members, dressed in normal, non-flashy clothes for their hit music video, “Flood,” convey the feeling that they are in touch with Generation X. And
their concerts are not spectacular, making a point to give a biblical message at each
venue, even if the concert is for a mainly secular audience.
Other Christian bands have attributed their success to God, and they feel that He
has led them to minister through music. But Jars of Clay is unique. They are totally
focused on what impression their lyrics will have on Christians and non-Christians alike.
Their lyrics are from the heart and soul of the band’s main vocalist, Dan Haseltine. They
are deeply committed to serving the Lord through music. This is different from other
cross over artists who write ambiguous songs for an integrated audience. Totally
committed to influencing people with their music, fame and money are secondary to Jars
of Clay. Most importantly, they have fun, which is seldom seen in the music industry.
“Love is the thing this time I’m sure
And I couldn’t need you more now
The way that you saw things were so pure
Overjoyed”
-From the song “Overjoyed” by Jars of Clay
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Works Cited Halverson, Holly. “Wade Into the Pool.” Contemporary Christian Music Oct 1995:1-2.
Hefner, April. “Boys 2 Men.” Contemporary Christian Music Oct 1997: 1-5.
Lutes, Chris. “Faith Under Fire.” Campus Life March/April 1997: 1-4.
Orteza, Arsenio. “The Road to Ruin.” World 3 Aug 1996: 1-2.
“Out of the Jar, Into the Fire.” http://www.jarsofclay.com/archive/ 29 October 1997.
Rumburg, Gregory. “Unguarded.” Contemporary Christian Music Sept 1997: 1.
“The History of Jars of Clay.” http://www.jarsofclay.com/archive/
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