Pastor Stiffs Waiter on Tip: 'I Give God 10 Percent, Why Do You Get 18'
A waiter claims a pastor and his party of 19 refused to leave him an automated tip for his $200 bill, and instead wrote on the receipt, "I give God 10 percent, why do you get 18?"
The waiter posted the viral image of his receipt with the purported pastor's note on Tuesday on social network Reddit. The post, titled "My mistake sir, I'm sure Jesus will pay for my rent and groceries," has received nearly 4,000 comments in a category for atheism-related discussions.
Reddit user "gateflan" posted the marked up receipt, explaining, "It was only compulsory because it was a table of 20. Parties up to eight at my work may tip whatever they'd like, but larger parties receive an automatic gratuity. It's in the computer, it's not something I do."
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The receipt seen in the photo shows a total of $34.93, with a recommended minimum tip of 18 percent, or $6.29. Instead of writing in the suggested tip, or a slightly lesser amount, the diner scratched the $6.29 out and wrote in "0." He also signed the receipt "pastor." His comment on giving God 10 percent is a reference to a tithe offering customary in many Christian churches.
When asked by other Reddit users about the $34.93 total shown in the photo, the waiter said, "They ran up well over $200 before taxes or gratuity. They asked for separate checks, thinking it would get them out of the autograt, even though the same man paid for everything."
"They had no problem with my service, and told me I was great. They just didn't want to pay when the time came," the waiter added.
While many of the responses about the stiffed tip centered on living wages, workers' rights and mandatory tips, some Reddit users attempted to console the poster and point out the pastor's wrong.
"As a Christian who waited tables until being laid off recently, I'm thankful for having worked a wage that depended on the generosity of others. It's a perspective I will not forget," one commenter wrote, who later edited his commented to add that he thought the pastor was "misguided" among other things.
Other Reddit users shared Bible passages, such as "I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me" found in Matthew 25:40. Proverbs 14:31 was also mentioned: "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."
The waiter did not appear to share the name of the restaurant or its location in his Reddit post.
