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 Cooper
April 12, 2022
Strongly agree, David. Ignorant and arrogant, not to mention, obviously suffering from long and short term memory loss. I still find it hard to comprehend how anyone who professes faith in Jesus and reads their Bible on a consistent basis, can come away with the idea that the sins non-believers commit dictates how we should treat them. If that was a valid God ordained concept, none of us would be reconciled to God, no not one. How can a Bible believing Christian miss that? And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Consider how some Christians slander and demean those who hold different political views. But I digress. Thank you for the post David, much needed. Blessings!
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dettinger47
April 12, 2022
Great points, Bruce. Amen to all of them!
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Lisa Beth
April 12, 2022
“Pay the worker his wages”, simple Bible mandates.
These are the incidents that media will showcase and exploit as the time ripens for persecution here.
But actually David, more than a waitress, Christians need to stop protesting the world (oh no! Disney is pushing a sexual agenda!) We’re called to separate from the world, not futility try to sanitize it. Its all wasted misguided action, without value.
May the Holy Spirit kindle our hearts to be God-led in this dark world.
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dettinger47
April 12, 2022
Amen. So well said, Lisa Beth!
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Tom
April 12, 2022
Good points, David! It’s one thing for believers to discuss/criticize worldly sinful agendas amongst ourselves, but when we go out into the world we should not be a stumbling block to unbelievers. There is a way to communicate the Gospel without being obnoxious. That’s not to say that we should smile upon sin, but neither should we become sanctimonious, Westboro Baptist-like condemners.
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dettinger47
April 12, 2022
“… we should not be a stumbling block to unbelievers. There is a way to communicate the Gospel without being obnoxious.”
So true, Tom. I wish more Christians would remember this.
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Dale Stroud
April 12, 2022
John 3:16 is quoted and posted at every turn, John 3:17 not so much.
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dettinger47
April 12, 2022
Great point, Dale. In my young years as a Christian in New Mexico, an older godly believer said the same thing. In fact, he was outright miffed by the fact so many people quoted John 3:16, but ignored verse 17.
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Dale Stroud
April 12, 2022
I guess verse 17 wasn’t on the bumper sticker…
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dettinger47
April 12, 2022
Hah. Exactly.
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Blue Collar Theologian
April 12, 2022
This is just so ridiculous and outrageous it will stick with me for the rest of the day (not you or your commenters, the article!). I realize this was from 2017 and sports gambling inside Buffalo Wild Wings was not really an issue (at least not that I am aware of). Buffalo Wild Wings does not espouse Christian values. People frequent there to literally eat, drink and be merry (either drinking because their team is winning or losing) so this does not remotely make sense to me. I agree with you it is more than just the waitress. I also agree with Lisa, this is the stuff that gets Christians on the news for being kooks, cheap and all around despicable and miserable people. Alcohol and sports betting are doing just as serious damage to the family structure as the lgbtqia+ agenda. I don’t know about you David, but I was unprepared for how strong the strong delusion (2 Thes 2:11-12) would really be, and in all areas of life!!!!! Praying to not be a stain on the name of Christ today!!!!
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dettinger47
April 12, 2022
Well said, Mandy. I share in your outrage. And I think all Christians should take to heart what you wrote at the end: “Praying to not be a stain on the name of Christ today!!!!” Yes indeed!
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Crissy
April 13, 2022
I wonder in the couple knew the Jesus of the Bible?
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dettinger47
April 13, 2022
Good question, Crissy.
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Adelheid
April 22, 2022
Arrogant. They may have their reason(s) but still, it shouldn’t be ‘that’ way to treat the waitress, or any person for that matter.
In addition (as was mentioned in previous comments), John 3:17 – For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
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Cathy
April 27, 2022
We’ll said regarding John 3:17. I’ve listened to some street preachers, and I’m all for street preaching if it’s done well, but I’ve found some of the preaching these days can be condemning. We have to keep the good news good. Truth and love draws but condemnation pushes people away.
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