By The Rev. Dr. Carl Grosse

My parents were teachers, so summer was when we took long trips to see family. Dad’s parents lived in Dallas, and my Grandma Causey lived in Laurel Mississippi, both a far piece from Montana. In 1968, you could still see quirky motels, eateries, and tourist attractions along the way. Giant beef cows were popular along our route, but I remember seeing a giant beehive, several giant teepees, and lots of flashy neon signs. Supposedly investors are refurbishing some of these classic travel stops, attempting to cash in on retro chic tastes among Gen Z wanderers. Back then, it was entertaining to see what entrepreneurs would dream up to catch the attention of travelers.

Fads come and go. Evangelism back in those days meant arming yourself with tracts like the 4 Spiritual Laws and “selling” the gospel. Since then we’ve gone through Friendship Evangelism, Evangelism Explosion, Needs-based Evangelism, Hospitality Evangelism, Social Justice Evangelism, and several other trendy “proven” methods. Now we seem to be in a cacophony of messages from social media influencers and Christian movie producers, using media technology and marketing techniques to hit target markets with whatever “spiritual truth” the algorithms are amplifying. Evangelism becomes a matter of liking something so our friends will point to it and consume the product, usually alone. 

Ironically, the Bible has a different portrayal of how God’s kingdom spreads. Joseph is the first character we might truly call an evangelist, and he draws attention to God by the way he lives. In Egypt, Joseph works hard, helps people flourish, and shows personal integrity. He’s also gifted in interpreting dreams and effectively managing the national economy. Joseph’s love for God and others shows in making life better for those around him and staying true to God’s ways even when met with ever-present human sleaze (his brothers, Potiphar’s wife). That method of evangelism, simply living faithfully, forms a continuous thread all the way through Revelation. When God’s people conduct themselves the way God tells them to, Kingdom things happen. 

Too often we mistake supplementing this faithful living with flashy stuff or the latest techniques as “doing God’s work”. Perhaps that approach actually shows weak faith in what God has already shown us works. Be loving at home, be forgiving at work, be patient and kind at school, don’t return wrong for wrong on the road, treat service workers like human beings made in God’s image. Leave the giant cows for others who need that to drum up business.