4:21 PM
Jeff Tilden
A St. Louis pastor decided to scribble on her Applebees dinner bill, "I give God 10%. Why do you get 18?". Not only that, she marked out the tip line and wrote in a big fat "0". To make this story even more hideous, the Applebees waitress who received the note on this Pastor's check posted it online. It has since gone viral. The Pastor caught wind that her note was plastered for all the world to see, went down to Applebees and complained. Applebees, in turn, fired the waitress.
Let me get this straight. First of all, a Pastor, decided it would be a wise move to stiff a waitress, and further brag about how she gives to God in hopes that what? This young woman would see the love of Christ and at the same time grasp an understanding of how expensive it is for customers who go to dinner and have to pay 18% gratuity? Secondly, this pastor thought it would also be a good idea to complain to Applebees and get this waitress fired?
As a Christ-follower, who treasures the truth of God's Word, when I see something like this I can't help but label this pastor a "cultural Christian". As Jesus and Isaiah so poignantly put it, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me". (Matthew 15:8) The difference between cultural Christians and actual Christ-followers is lip service vs. selfless service.
When I was in seminary, my wife and I joined another couple for lunch after church at a local restaurant one Sunday. When the waitress arrived to our table, she sort of plopped her arms down with a sigh. I asked her how her day was going. She replied, "Not good. Its Sunday." I then asked her if Sunday was the toughest day to wait tables out of all the days of the week. She said that it most definitely was. When I asked "why", she replied, "because all of the church goers are so demanding and mean". She went on to say that out of all her customers, the people all dressed up straight out of Sunday church were the rudest and absolute worst customers to wait on.
I was disappointed, but not surprised. This is sort of the same feeling I had when I came across this most recent story. As I was reading through the first half of James 2 this week, I was reminded of how important it is to reign in pride, stereotypes, and prejudice. James retorts, "how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?" (James 2:1) The actions of this pastor and the many rude church-going restaurant patrons prove that in their minds, they regard themselves as better somehow. Maybe its in view of the position, seeing that a waitress is not a highly valued job. Perhaps its also a dangerous practice of believing that one is better than someone else because of their self-proclaimed adherence and relationship to God.
Either way, its heartbreaking and disgusting. I pray in my own life that I constantly look for ways that I can above and beyond serve others and love them like Jesus. Maybe you're one of the "jerky Christians" that do nothing but tip poorly, complain, and act obnoxious at restaurants. Take a lesson from the Scripture you claim. "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28)
As a Christ-follower, who treasures the truth of God's Word, when I see something like this I can't help but label this pastor a "cultural Christian". As Jesus and Isaiah so poignantly put it, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me". (Matthew 15:8) The difference between cultural Christians and actual Christ-followers is lip service vs. selfless service.
When I was in seminary, my wife and I joined another couple for lunch after church at a local restaurant one Sunday. When the waitress arrived to our table, she sort of plopped her arms down with a sigh. I asked her how her day was going. She replied, "Not good. Its Sunday." I then asked her if Sunday was the toughest day to wait tables out of all the days of the week. She said that it most definitely was. When I asked "why", she replied, "because all of the church goers are so demanding and mean". She went on to say that out of all her customers, the people all dressed up straight out of Sunday church were the rudest and absolute worst customers to wait on.
I was disappointed, but not surprised. This is sort of the same feeling I had when I came across this most recent story. As I was reading through the first half of James 2 this week, I was reminded of how important it is to reign in pride, stereotypes, and prejudice. James retorts, "how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?" (James 2:1) The actions of this pastor and the many rude church-going restaurant patrons prove that in their minds, they regard themselves as better somehow. Maybe its in view of the position, seeing that a waitress is not a highly valued job. Perhaps its also a dangerous practice of believing that one is better than someone else because of their self-proclaimed adherence and relationship to God.
Either way, its heartbreaking and disgusting. I pray in my own life that I constantly look for ways that I can above and beyond serve others and love them like Jesus. Maybe you're one of the "jerky Christians" that do nothing but tip poorly, complain, and act obnoxious at restaurants. Take a lesson from the Scripture you claim. "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28)
2 comments:
When I waited tables in college, Sunday lunch was the shift everybody hated because of the reasons you mentioned above. It was also known that the church folks would tip poorly too. I know I'm not perfect and I'm not judging, but shouldn't that be their favorite shift because of the kindness and generosity Christians show them? Very sad.
That is sad. I wish that shift would be a delight because servers were overwhelmed by the light and love of Christ from His faithful followers.
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