The Flea Market Jesus

I spent my honeymoon in Cancun. It's a nice place, but we're not sure we would choose Cancun again knowing what we do now. The resort we stayed in was pretty, and it was new. (At least it was new eight years ago when we were there.) One of the most memorable experiences for me, however, was an exercise in Western consumerism in its highest form. If you've ever been to a country like Mexico where tourism feeds so many hungry mouths then you will immediately understand what I am about to write about here. My wife and I were walking down the street among a plethora of merchants. They were selling silver, flags, dresses, sunglasses, baskets, hats, knives, ceramic elephants, shot glasses, picture frames, and other crap that most people traveling to Cancun already have and don't need to buy. Walking through the market among the merchants is entertaining in and of itself. They call out to you, tantalize you with their wares, and promise you the best price. And this is why you are there - to buy crap you don't need at the best possible price.

My wife spots a watch she thinks looks pretty. I ask the guy how much it costs.

"One eighty-five."

"How about fifteen?"

"No. I can make you a deal at One twenty-five."

"Twenty bucks."

"Ninety. That's the best I can do."

"That's all? No thanks. Have a nice day."

I turned and walked away. I made it four steps before he tapped me on the shoulder.

"Fifty."

"Thirty-five."

"Okay."

I opened my wallet,handed him two twenties, and asked for my change. He gave me a five and the watch. My wife put the watch on; I stuffed the five into my pocket wondering if I could have gotten it for less. I'm sure he wondered if he could have gotten forty out of me.

Some people like this bartering game. I don't. It makes me feel cheap. Not frugal. Cheap.

I had this same feeling last week. Here at Appalachian State University they have a thing for incoming freshmen called "Religious Convocation." The name is a little deceiving. It's not a convocation in the traditional sense of the word. It's more like a "Ministry Fair," which is to say "Ministry Flea Market." Each religious organization was allowed two minutes at a podium at the front of a large room to present what they offered the students. Campus Crusade for Christ. Campus Christian Fellowship. Hillel. Catholic Student Association. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Innervarsity. Pagan Student Association. Hindu Student Association. Wesley Foundation. Baptist Student Union. And there were churches too. All selling their wares. All trying to convince students why they needed to connect with them. Spouting off what they had to offer. It struck me that I was witnessing a perfect manifestation of consumerist religion.

"We have free food."

"We meet in the night club."

"We have cheap food."

"We have Bible studies."

"We do retreats.'

"We have lots of socials."

"We have fun."

Did I mention, "We have food."

It felt like I was in a sanctified-under-the-guise-of-spirituality skin market - religious organizations selling themselves. It felt dirty. Students came to consume religious goods. They came to buy at the least possible price. Business was good. And once again I felt like I was buying a watch in Cancun. I felt cheap.

What happened to the call of Christ? What happened to giving to the mission of the Kingdom? What happened to high stakes? What happened to giving all you have? What happened to taking up the cross? What happened to the Jesus who transforms lives?

We checked that Jesus at the door for a much cheaper version - the flea market version.