Comments on: How Should Christians Tip at Restaurants?

By: Kristian

Kristian — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 03:53:40 +0000

I generally, give between 15 and 20%. Now, if one wanted to give a bible tract on top of the tip, that would be a witness. Otherwise, it would more likely be a witness in the opposite direction. “Do not muzzle the ox that’s treading out the grain”. “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” God has blessed us to be a blessing, not out of obligation, but out of the overabundance of God’s extravagant grace.

By: Christy

Christy — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:42:58 +0000

You should not leave a tract instead of a tip, that is rude. Leave both a tract and a tip, now that’s awesome.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:44:56 +0000

Please not I did not read all comments before me:

I have one question for anyone that believe that giving a tract and not leaving any tip(money)is a way to show God’s love

What is a TRUE motive?

By: Haadinke Pharnwell

Haadinke Pharnwell — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:43:29 +0000

A smile and request praying for them I would do.

By: schella

schella — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:26:25 +0000

I used to work as a waitress for several years. I always thought if I did not give good service, for any reason, I did not deserve a tip. You would not pay a roofer if he did not fix your roof, would you? On the other hand, I expected to receive the going rate, which today is at least 15%,if I provided good service. I was always thankful for the blessing of receiving more than 15%, but to expect more is just short of being greedy.How much the person makes hourly is not a reason to tip 20%.If they are a Christian, then God has them there for His purpose and that includes making however much they are getting. Sometimes I do leave 20% or more, but that is for exceptional service. If a waitress/waiter wants 20% then they should expect to be exceptional.

By: eric johnson

eric johnson — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:51:57 +0000

That is an awesome idea, asking your wait staff if there is anything you can pray for! It’s a little intimidating at first but the more I thought about it I love it!

By: Pam

Pam — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:42:19 +0000

Everyone below has spelled things out well regarding how we as Christians should view this from the spiritual point of view – and I can’t say it all any better. So I would like to provide some information from the technical point of view. Most wait staff make around $3.00 to $4.00 per hour as a base wage. When they serve you their total sales for the shift are added up – and they are required to tip out a set % of their sales to bussers, bartenders (where applicable – whether YOU drank alcohol or not), and in some establishments the host or hostess. They must do this regardless based on their sales, regardless of how much they make in tips. There was one night where my tips were so bad that I was actually in the negative that night and had to tip out to my bussers & bartender out of my own pocket. It was prom night and almost all my customers were teens that didn’t really have the money to tip – or probably hadn’t been educated. The new etiquette over the last 5 years recommends 18% for good service and 20% or more for excellent service. With this your server might manage at least somewhere between minimum wage and $11.00 per hour. Also – please remember that the longer you sit around holding up a table just to sit and visit, the more your server is losing money, because they can’t “turn” the table and get more customers. Most restaurants only allow each server to have between 3 – 5 tables in their section…so you can see that the longer we sit the less money per hour the server makes. Now that I’ve gotten older and am no longer a server, if I go to a restaurant for a meeting and I’m there more than an hour I pay booth rent to my server. Usually at least 5.00/hour.

By: Jack Mears

Jack Mears — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:42:17 +0000

The golden rule works in all situations, even tipping. Works in parent-child relations,(what would like for the child to do if you were the child & knowing what you do now. Works in race relations, works in relations between rich & poor,works in any situation. Just treat the person serving you like you would have him treat you if you were doing the serving.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:45:44 +0000

As a Christian motorcyclist – tipping is part of the expense of dining out. I’ve been with some rather unusual people – but they always generously tip – regardless of their religeous preference.

One comment that I had noted “Christians are the worse tippers’ – how do you know they were Christians? A simple sign does not denote your belief.

My daughter is in the food service business – and it is the tips that have enabled her to remian in this business for many years.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:55:37 +0000

I must say this article and the responses have brought conviction to my heart. I don’t always tip 20%, to be transparent, I usually just double the tax amount. Not for any other reason than that’s what I was taught to do. I don’t want to come across like I’m making excuses because there are no excuses. God has blessed myself and my wife with the opportunity to enjoy eating out more than most. We’re not rich but we try to budget the money to enjoy going out. That’ll change when we have kids! Thanks for publishing this article and thanks to the many responses. My eyes have been opened!