According to Philippians 2:14-16, we are to be followers of Jesus who refuse to grumble so that we can have a good reputation and be a positive reflection of Christ in our world that is permanently distorted. In other words, when we develop the reputation of being grumblers it harms our reflection of Jesus. In fact, it often turns people off to Jesus.
Think about it. If you have the reputation at work of being a grumbler and complainer, chances are that you have probably turned a co-worker or two off to Jesus. If you have the reputation at school of being a grumbler and complainer, chances are that you have probably turned a fellow student or teacher off to Jesus. If you have the reputation of being a grumbler and complainer at home and in your neighborhood, chances are good that you have probably turned off a family member or neighbor to Jesus.
And perhaps there is no area where this is more true than in the restaurants surrounding your church. Surveys have shown that the time of the week that waitresses and waiters dread the most is Sunday afternoons when the church crowd comes in to eat after worship. Below are actual quotes from restaurant employees:
“I hate working Sundays because people who come in after church are the worst to serve. They are really difficult and terrible tippers!”
“I am a server at Olive Garden and it is well known that if you see them praying before the meal, it’s bad news. Not only will you get a bad tip, but you will most likely be treated with disrespect!”
“As a waitress for many years, I always hated working the Sunday lunch crowd because they were the worst. Nothing like cranky folks who left a sucky tip!”
“In the community I’m at, waiters do not look forward to working Sundays because the church people come in all dressed up, are very picky about every little thing, and then leave a crappy tip!”
“I waited tables in college and the Sunday crowd was AWFUL. The servers would actually pay each other to work the Sunday shift just to get out of it. It wasn’t so much the bad tips as it was the picky, hateful, ‘let me treat you like dirt because you didn’t go to church’ attitudes that were infuriating!”
I wonder how many waiters, waitresses and servers in America have been turned off to Jesus because of serving grumbling Christians following church. So if you attend Grace Church here in Lititz, will you do me a huge favor? When you go out to eat after church, if you treat the restaurant staff with anything less than grace and kindness, and if you tipe anything less than 15%-20%, would you please tell the waitress or waiter that you attend the church across the street or on the other side of town and not Grace Church?
Think about it. If you have the reputation at work of being a grumbler and complainer, chances are that you have probably turned a co-worker or two off to Jesus. If you have the reputation at school of being a grumbler and complainer, chances are that you have probably turned a fellow student or teacher off to Jesus. If you have the reputation of being a grumbler and complainer at home and in your neighborhood, chances are good that you have probably turned off a family member or neighbor to Jesus.
And perhaps there is no area where this is more true than in the restaurants surrounding your church. Surveys have shown that the time of the week that waitresses and waiters dread the most is Sunday afternoons when the church crowd comes in to eat after worship. Below are actual quotes from restaurant employees:
“I hate working Sundays because people who come in after church are the worst to serve. They are really difficult and terrible tippers!”
“I am a server at Olive Garden and it is well known that if you see them praying before the meal, it’s bad news. Not only will you get a bad tip, but you will most likely be treated with disrespect!”
“As a waitress for many years, I always hated working the Sunday lunch crowd because they were the worst. Nothing like cranky folks who left a sucky tip!”
“In the community I’m at, waiters do not look forward to working Sundays because the church people come in all dressed up, are very picky about every little thing, and then leave a crappy tip!”
“I waited tables in college and the Sunday crowd was AWFUL. The servers would actually pay each other to work the Sunday shift just to get out of it. It wasn’t so much the bad tips as it was the picky, hateful, ‘let me treat you like dirt because you didn’t go to church’ attitudes that were infuriating!”
I wonder how many waiters, waitresses and servers in America have been turned off to Jesus because of serving grumbling Christians following church. So if you attend Grace Church here in Lititz, will you do me a huge favor? When you go out to eat after church, if you treat the restaurant staff with anything less than grace and kindness, and if you tipe anything less than 15%-20%, would you please tell the waitress or waiter that you attend the church across the street or on the other side of town and not Grace Church?
4 comments:
Thanks, Scott, for writing this! It is a great lesson to all of us!
Waitstaff and people at restaurants will not think positively about Jesus if we, as Christians, do not show love, and tip well.
It's sad that we are seen in that light, and hopefully, we as Christians, can change that by being more like Jesus in restaurant settings!
I always, always enjoy reading your blog, brother!
Thanks, Clint! It is always good to hear from you! I appreciate your encouragement! Blessings to you this Christmas, brother!
I am a veteran of food service for 13 years. Yes tips on Sunday are worse than they are other days. Yes i have many unsaved co-workers who are in fact turned off to Christ- but I can't say that it is entirely due to poor tipping. Christians in general, no matter where they are, are often percieved to carry about them a snooty, holier than thou attitude. Coming fresh from church aggravates this image, so its easily noticed there.
I personally feel that those who are in a relationship with the one true living God don't come off this way. We need to remember why we are unique, why following our faith should be different. We need to get away from the religiousness of Christianity.
As an aside, don't tip 15-20 % just cuz that is what society tells you to do, tip that amount because the service warranted it. Leaving tracts on the table is a waste of resources- instead, just be Christ to that server- and if the Spirit gives you an opportunity- seize it!
God Bless
Thanks, Rodknee. Your ocmments are right on the money. Blessings to you!
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