January 31, 2013
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Christians Leaving Tips
Read this article today.
If you don’t want to read it, it’s about a pastor who came a restaurant with a large group so an 18% gratuity was tacked on to his bill. Upon receiving his bill, he scratched out the automatic gratuity and wrote “I give God 10%. Why do you get 18?”
It’s people like this that make people hate Christians.
Not only is this a misunderstanding of tithing, it’s a misunderstanding of how we relate to God and one another. God doesn’t demand we pay a certain amount to make God happy. God wants us to give out of the joy and generosity of our hearts. Not only that, but I recall Jesus saying, “For what you’ve done to the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you’ve done unto me.” So, essentially, if we give a waiter a crappy tip, we are in fact giving God a crappy tip.
I’ve heard that many waiters and waitresses hate working on Sunday morning and afternoon because the Christians come in after church and they are rude, unkind, and leave poor tips. That’s not good. I really hope to see the Holy Spirit move in the Body once again. We shouldn’t be known for that, but instead be known for our kindness, generosity, good works, devotion to God, and our love. I really pray for that time to come, and I pray for that spirit in myself.
If you are a Christian, please tip well. It really is important.
“Being saved is trusting in what Christ did for us, but being Christians is dependent on the way we respond to what he did for us.” -Tony Campolo
Comments (33)
Nice work!
This is our world to live in by example. Maybe it is to full of guile but two wrongs don’t make it right.
I think the 18% was probably noted on the menu, but he must not have seen it. Does seem a bit high ordinarily. I wonder what they had that made a gratuity an automatic charge…unless it was a large group. Sometimes they charge more that way.
On a side note, that may change someone’s mind about Christians, but the natural man does not understand anyway, and the enmity against God that the world has is the real reason for hatred moreso than any supposed wrongs. But yes, I want to be a good witness for Christ. It does matter.
As a Christian who waited tables let me tell you I had to deal with servers who cursed Christians every Sunday. And what could I say…I said nothing, because my fellow workers were completely right. Even after I left food service if I was having lunch on Sunday with a bunch of fellow believers, I took it upon myself to ask each person if they were leaving a tip. If they left less than 15% they got a stern lecture from me. I tip 20%, but if the server knows me and knows I am a Christian I tip 25-30%, and I always right on the bill, “Thanks! God Bless you richly!”
By law Restaurants only have to pay a max of about $2.13 an hour, and that’s not what all of them pay, because they don’t have to. All across this land servers work for much less than minimum wage, because they make their living on tips. I tip well, because I am a believer, and I’ve suffered along with my co-workers, but also because God has made me rich through the salvation he gives me in Christ. You tip poorly, and I’ll join the chorus of voices cursing you, you’ve earned it. Tip badly, and you deserve whatever scorn and hatred thrown your way. That server took care of you, because the rent is due, the light bill is due, Jr. needs diapers, and etc. And don’t make empty arguments about restaurants paying a fair wage, they’re not going to pay more, so stop wasting you breath and the waiter/waitress’s time and learn how to tip, and that’s the only right answer.
I went out to lunch with one of my college professors today. He insisted on paying the bill which came to $26.13.
I insisted on paying the tip, $10.00.
I love servers! They try so hard to do a good job. And that is really priceless.
@PlatotheSmurf - You’re the best!!
Agreed in full. And if you are with such a person at your table, call them out about it. Tell them to think about what Jesus would do for that waiter. What has He called us to do then? To be like him. As you said, what we do to the least of these, we’ve done unto him. Help people to live accountable.
I agree in full with this. My tips are based on the person and the service received, and mainly how much I can afford to give. If I have a particularly rude waiter/ress, I simply try to encourage them. Something isn’t right in their lives. While I may not tip extraordinarily well because I don’t want to reward really negative behavior and make them think it’s okay to be like that, I at least tip 10 percent, normally (because that’s what I can typically afford). If they require more as a restaurant, I tip as required. I believe that’s what Jesus would do in that situation. If they are exceptional waiters/resses, I tip above & beyond, even if I can’t afford it. There have been times I have had to skip getting something else I wanted, simply to tip a waiter/tress well for doing their job extremely well.
All of our involvement with others should be looked at as ministry. You know?
Truly,
~*Akarui Mitsukai*~
I like your blogs and the way you reason these things out. I am not a Christian, but I think you make some good points that can apply more broadly too. It’s about being a good person. Well said!
Agree!!
I agree. That’s not being a good steward.
I totally agree. If you don’t want to tip, don’t go to a restaurant. It’s that simple. Otherwise, be generous and set a good example. Things like this just drive people away from God.
One time we were out to dinner with Christian friends and they were treating us. The husband left a small tip and a tract. My husband snuck back and left a larger tip. He’s done that more than once.
my family is big on eating out, and we will routinely leave a 30% tip anywhere we go. this is a great reason to adopt the tipping customs of other countries, where servers get paid a real wage and tips really are just something extra for exceptional service.
It was actually a she. The pastor’s name was Alois Bell.
I’m sorry, but thats just not ok. He’s a pastor, he should be leading by example. not by showing people how to screw people over. that is a part of their income. Crap, that really is something that makes people hate Christians.
yerp…
I think i do ok in the tip department, I standardly tip $5, flat. that may seem like not much, but if all i get is a drink, which happens, that’s over 200%, when I do get a meal rarely is my tab over $20 which still means i’m tipping at least 25%.
Ever wonder why chick-fil-a is closed on sundays?
….Did he also give 10% of his food to God? Was 10% of what he ordered still on his plate? Glass of water 10% full? Dude really?….this guys sermons must also be 10% short. The sad part in all of this is not only is this guy giving a horible example…is that he thinks he is giving you a great example.
When I worked in the service industry, the most horrible time of the week was right after church and before that Sunday’s football games. I never knew which part made people assholes, but the combination platter that created made Sunday at about 11am absolutely miserable.
It looks like there’s a follow-up to the story. Some people found out who the pastor was based on the signature and started contacting her to complain about her actions. In return, the pastor called Applebee’s and demanded that everyone, including the manager, be fired. The waitress did get fired for making the pastor’s information public. The pastor has since apologized for her actions but claims that she did leave a cash tip for the waitress.
“I’ve heard that many waiters and waitresses hate working on Sunday morning and afternoon because the Christians come in after church and they are rude, unkind, and leave poor tips.”
I’ve seen this plenty enough.
People are people. Christian or not, some people are rude and unkind, others are generous and lovely.
@Hunt4Truth - I think that’s one of the fundamental truths that Jesus taught us.
@quest4god@revelife - As a Wesleyan, I believe that humankind is inherently good. We are created in the image of God, thus we should know right from wrong regardless of who we believe in. But theological differences aside, this pastor did come with a large group and like many restaurants, this one charged gratuity. It may seem a bit high, but I believe that it’s customary to tip between 15 and 20%, so this seems about right.
@Such_are_you - Thanks for doing your part. Those of us Christians who don’t tip well do need a stern lecture. We should be known for our generosity.
@PlatotheSmurf - I agree. I love servers too. I don’t know if it’s good for me to do or not, but even if I have a bad server, I still try to tip well. I consider that an extension of the grace of God.
@akarui_mitsukai - I agree. We are ministers. It’s a call to be a servant, not an excuse to be a jerk.
@EmilyandAtticus - Thank you very much and thank you for supporting my blog
@HUMOR_ME_NOW - :)
@SHEERROSE - No, not at all. I wonder what she teaches her congregation…
@firetyger - Yes they do. Most people hate Christianity not because of what Jesus teaches, but because Christians often don’t follow what Jesus teaches.
@ata_grandma - Oh tracts! My arch nemesis! Did they really believe they were doing the waiter/waitress a favor? Thank God for your husband!
@flapper_femme_fatale - I couldn’t agree more
@ShimmerBodyCream - Thanks for the correction. Shame on me for assuming this pastor was a man. I’ll make the fix.
@jordon@revelife - There’s a lot of foolish things that are done in Jesus’ name aren’t there?
@iones_island - That seems very fair.
@Thebraziliandude - Yeah. Reminds me of this.
@GodlessLiberal - I’m sorry that that was your experience. I never want to pretend that I’ve mastered perfection, but specifically on Sundays, I try to be sure I’m extra polite, extra kind, and tip extra. It’s got to be stressful.
@Crono09 - Yeah, I saw that. The waitress really shouldn’t have shown the pastor’s name, but I am happy the pastor is ashamed of her actions (or so she claims). I’m not sure the pastor’s story of leaving a cash tip is true… otherwise, what would be the point of scratching out the 18% and leaving “0%”? Oh well.
@consignedhearts111 - I agree very much. I do think Christians have a responsibility to go above and beyond in their graciousness though, so I don’t buy into the “people are people” excuse.
“…there is none that doeth good. No, not one.”"…..why do you call me good? only God is good.” God has declared that all men are lost and in need of redemption, so your “theology” is denying the things that God has said? Must be a different god. If men can be good, then Christ gave Himself to die for no reason. We should just do right and then God would accept us as righteous in ourselves?
@quest4god@revelife - Genesis 1:31- “God saw everything he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” So apparently your “theology” is also denying the things that God has said. But I don’t believe that at all. I just believe you’ve misunderstood Jesus’ teaching in that passage. I believe all things are inherently good because God keeps his promises. I believe human beings are especially inherently good because we are created in God’s image. I don’t believe the fall made us less than that. The verse you quoted is an acknowledgement of where goodness comes from. But again, this is where your Calvinism and my Wesleyanism collide and we will not see eye to eye.
Now, I would much appreciate it if you would stick to the point of my article instead of try to discredit me, my tradition, and my faith.
@jmallory -Sorry to have offended you. Some of what your post was about depended upon your theology and I was commenting on my disagreement with that part of your premise.
I wish that all men were good and I try to begin every encounter or relationship based on that wish/hope; but it doesn’t show maturity if we can’t make value judgments especially in business or marrying.
@quest4god@revelife - From my standpoint, it is no value judgment at all, but instead a preconceived notion that all human kind are evil. But I do suppose that is a good hope or wish- that those we come across are indeed good.
@jmallory - Didn’t realize you were close at hand… I’ve been a manager and personel manager, so I’ve had to separate those applying by my own gut feelings. At times, I’ve taken on someone against my intuition and learned to regret it because they really were dishonest; but those whom I really had high hopes for seemed seldom to disappoint me.
@quest4god@revelife - I take a lot from my gut too… Haha… it causes me to not trust a lot of people…
If I ever take a waitressing job I will stick this to the door.
@Nushirox2 - :)
Both of the pastors I sat under were actually very very generous tippers… and in fact it came up from time to time in sunday morning messages and wednesday night classes. I also saw first hand when we would go out. I love when I can tip well… it is a joyful experience.
@xXrEMmUsXx - I agree