By David Ettinger

A Cringeworthy News Item
I
cringed when I read the story. A Christian couple in an Illinois
restaurant made headlines by refusing to tip a waitress who supported
LGBTQ equality. (A tattoo on her forearm revealed her allegiances.)[1] The story was accompanied by a picture of the receipt upon which was scrawled, “Can’t tip someone who doesn’t love Jesus!”
This comment by the couple is rife with biblical ignorance and shoddy thinking. And, of course, it does harm to the cause of Christ as it has “given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” (2 Samuel 12:14).
Ignorance on Display
In what way did this couple display ignorance?
First, narrow thinking by targeting the server only. Believers are to live “in” this world (John 16:17) but not be a part of its anti-God agenda (Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:15-16). As ones who live “in” the world, this couple made the decision to “support” those who “don’t love Jesus” by patronizing the restaurant. No doubt the staff consists of many unbelievers holding numerous anti-biblical views. By paying for a meal – hence adding to the eatery’s coffers – this Christian couple “supported” all manner of people who “don’t love Jesus.”
Second, ignorance was shown by the couple who equated tipping the waitress with condoning her counter-biblical worldview. This is simply not the case. The only thing being supported by a tip would have been a hard-working individual trying to make a living in a perfectly acceptable way. Tipping the server was not a sanctioning of the LGBTQ cause.

Third, the couple should never have written this message. What good did it do? None. Instead, it gave those who hate Christians more ammunition to condemn us and the God we worship (2 Samuel 12:14).
In the end, this couple embraced ignorance and did harm to the cause of Christ.
Some Helpful Verses
What should this couple have done? What should you and I do in
such circumstances? Here are some verses to help us navigate our way
through a world which is daily growing more hostile toward Christianity.
In engaging unbelievers, please remember the following (emphasis
added):
- “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
- “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:9-10).
- “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:5-6).
- “… be ready for every good deed … malign no one … be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves …” (Titus 3:1-3).
Not Rocket Science
This is not rocket science. Acting kindly toward unbelievers is
a far better witness of the Gospel than cruel ignorance. After all,
Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I
have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). Jesus,
without ever compromising the truth, engaged with and showed kindness to
unbelievers (“the sick”) because He knew their souls were in eternal
danger.

The apostle Paul understood this, lived accordingly, and instructed us on how to do the same. He wrote: “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). This does not mean Paul engaged in sinful acts; rather, he interacted with unbelievers in terms they could understand, and sought to reach them with the Gospel.
Regarding this waitress who is so obviously out of God’s will, the proper behavior would have been to give her a generous tip with the words, “Thank you for the wonderful job you did. In the love of Jesus.” Wouldn’t such an action have done far more for the cause of Christ than chastising her for the same belief many of us possessed before coming to faith?
Acting Judiciously
Jesus expects His followers to use their hearts and
their heads. He said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:27). Doing so
will help us view the unsaved with compassion, which in turn will
dictate how we act.
Don’t forget the end-game is to share the love of Christ and lead as many as are willing to salvation in Him. Paul wrote: “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible” (1 Corinthians 9:19).
May you and I strive to do the same.
[1] “A Gay Waitress Was Denied A Tip Because She ‘Doesn’t Love Jesus’”, Refinery29.com, http://www.refinery29.com/2017/08/167597/gay-waitress-no-tip-rainbow-tattoo
Bruce
March 4, 2019
EXCELLENT post David, I reposted it!
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dettinger47
March 4, 2019
Thank you so much, Bruce. Appreciate it!
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mrsmariposa2014
March 4, 2019
Excellent points made here. We are not OF the world, but, right now, we are IN the world, and as such, our burden is to share His love with whoever He puts in our path, regardless of what their current heart status is. It’s HIS job to convict. I think sometimes, too many times, we as Christians forget how fallen we all were before knowing Jesus and get ourselves on a high horse of piety. I pray there’s someone out there who can show her what God is intends for Christianity to be.
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dettinger47
March 4, 2019
Great comment. Hey, if you extend this, you this can be a nice gateway back into writing. Just a thought. Have a wonderful week.
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mrsmariposa2014
March 5, 2019
Thanks! It’s something I am continuing to pray and ponder on. 🙂
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John Eli
March 4, 2019
We need more teachings like this one. Thank you David. I appreciate your willingness to address this.
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dettinger47
March 4, 2019
Thank so much, John!
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ken riddles
March 4, 2019
Exactly!
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dettinger47
March 4, 2019
Thank you, Ken.
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bigskybuckeye
March 5, 2019
I agree with the premise that the couple poured out their negativity towards the server. A much better witness of being a Christian would be to take the high road by glorifying God with an appropriate gesture.
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dettinger47
March 5, 2019
Precisely, big sky. Thanks.
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seekingdivineperspective
March 4, 2019
When I was at a week-long Christian conference at a YMCA conference center, the first night one of the speakers said a waiter had told him that the staff called that confernece “hell week.” When asked why, the waiter said that it was because Christians were known as the most demanding, critical, unpleasant people to serve – and they were the worst tippers. >OUCH!<
Was anyone listening?? I think so. At the end of the week I was saying goodbye to a couple of the servers, and after warm hugs they said how nice it was to have all of us there that week.
Yes, we can be jerks, but most of us are willing to improve. Thanks for writing a good wake-up article and being part of the solition.
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dettinger47
March 5, 2019
Good recollection. Thank you for sharing it.
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Crissy
March 5, 2019
This is an excellent post. A much needed post.
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dettinger47
March 5, 2019
Thank you. Crissy!
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Crissy
March 5, 2019
Reblogged this on KNOWING THE TIME, because what's coming matters.
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VictorsCorner
March 5, 2019
Well said David. I agree with you that the couple should have acted better or differently.
Unbelievers deserve our love and mercy. It is self-righteousness to think that they don’t.
Whether or not people love our Lord, it doesn’t stop us from loving them.
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dettinger47
March 5, 2019
You’re exactly right, Victor. We need to love unbelievers and plant Gospel seeds … not condemn them as unworthy.
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Dee@Sealed in Christ
March 5, 2019
Sadly, many Christians forget who they were before salvation and become narrowly focused. I blame a lot of this on the egocentric teaching that is so prevalent in today’s churches. Thanks so much for this teaching and reminder of how we are to represent Christ in this world.
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dettinger47
March 5, 2019
Spot on, Dee, especially your opening sentence about Christians forgetting who we were before salvation. Thank you for your insights!
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heavensreef
March 5, 2019
Great post David……I agree that what this couple did sounds and looks more like judgement. We are not to do this……..we need to leave that to our LORD in Heaven. We need to love, because HE first loved us!!
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dettinger47
March 5, 2019
Precisely, Maxine.
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Kristi Ann
March 8, 2019
Please Pray for our Judeo-Christian Nation United States of America and Israel-Yisrael and our Christian Earth Everyday!! “Pray Without Ceasing.” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV )!!
Christ-MESSIAH Jesus-Yeshua is the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE, no one Comes unto the FATHER, but through Christ-MESSIAH Jesus-Yeshua!!
Our ONE True GOD’S LOVE 💖💕 is ETERNAL THROUGH HIS SON Christ-MESSIAH Jesus-Yeshua for Today and Everyday Forevermore Everyone!!
I Love you all Everyone through Christ Jesus-Yeshua, because HE LOVED EVERYONE FIRST!!
Love Always and Shalom ( Peace ), YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
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lynnabbottstudios
March 10, 2019
My heart sinks when I read of Christians who behave in such a way… and I think of Jesus who treated people of all manner of walk with kindness…I think of Paul’s words in Romans 2, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” It is God’s grace and mercy that draws us… Excellent post, David!
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dettinger47
March 10, 2019
Amen, Lynn!
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