Viral $ tract
What's the deal here?
This article will answer several questions and provide some additional helps.
- Why would a tract like this be used?
- Is this a tract or a work from home flier?
- So what if tracts like this were used in the past?
- Are Tips required by Law, if not, what are they for?
- Should establishments reeducate about tips & reform expectations
- What if the server is a struggling single mom?
- What Servers need to remember.
- What can a Christian Server do with a tract?
- Is there anything wrong with handing out money tracts?
- Christians have several opportunities to help their server & others
- What kinds of tracts are best used with tips?
- Are people upset about receiving money tracts?
- What if I prefer convos to tracts? & does it cause limitations?
- Call to action for believers and non believers
- Helpful Resources
- Footnotes
Usually those who read this faq are typically not Christians, so a lot of what is said here is directed at non believers. The goal is to educate both non Christians and Christians so we can all do our best when eating out. But also note additional things that need some clarity and better understanding.
Are you judging and assuming something incorrect about this image?
Someone posted this image, and it went viral online. It was assumed to be a gospel tract, tho upon zooming in appears to be a small wfh flier. But this articles is about tracts, so if it is a tract...
Non Christian, assuming it is a tract, asks:
- What would you think if you saw this?
- Seems wrong to leave this instead of real tip money.
- The server could use real money, not this.
Christian Answer:
1. Are you starting from an assumption that
A. The Gospel itself is evil?; that's wrong.
B. That the intentions of the Christian is evil?; that is also wrong.
C. That the gospel isnt more valuable than all the money in the world?
People fail to consider:
1. This could be of a Christian sharing how they use tracts in various ways in daily life. I have seen those videos myself.
2. What if it is a tract?
Might be a believer is doing "what they can with what they have", following 1 Cor 9:22 to "by all means save some." and Rom 1:16 knowing they "are not ashamed of the Gospel", and that God has said "my word will go forth out of my mouth; it shall not return void. It will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isa. 55:10. Perhaps they have no money this month or often to buy a tract, yet have a printer, paper and ink to print out and distribute what they can, being faithful to God, and using a eye catching method to attract those in the world who have worldly desires; mainly the love of money. My mom did ones like this too in early internet times back in 2000. Nifty print out templates were available and people used what they had and did what they could. Perhaps a Church Granny had several boxes made before learning she could buy modern ones, or was gifted to her from the old church basement cuz she likes sharing the gospel. Regardless of intentions... Curious people pick them up. And read them.
3. If given at the end of an eatery visit...
Assumer fails to use common sense and realize the Christian likely already left a tip on the cc receipt. Or... even if the Christian, was with a non tipper at the meal and wasnt paying for the food, they cared about that servers' soul to leave a tract anyway.
4. What if the believer forgot to add more tracts to their tote bag, wallet or purse today and that was all they had left to leave, for a gospel witness.
5. What if it was a $ flier by atheists? Would you be just as upset at how they behave towards Christians? The ones here had evil intent. Christians tracts at eateries have a good and caring intent.
6. Perhaps you are focused on all the wrong things here:
A. Why wouldnt the convo be about Ending tipping in US and requiring food places to pay a normal wage like all the other global countries do. They do not even charge more for the food either.
Tip culture will end soon 👏.
B. If you are a believer, be glad that tho the workers for the Lord are few (Matt 9:37), the faithful are out there seeking daily opportunities to guide the lost to the Savior.
C. And, be glad that this image went viral again and is bringing the gospel & convos of it to 200k to 5 million people
online who see it and they are engaging about it 😊.
God's Word "never returns void." Isa. 55:10-11. And the Gospel will be preached to all the world. Some internationally will also see this post.
Eating out gives a Christian several gospel opportunities.
Q:What if the person serving is a struggling single mom? How does this help?
Christian:
There are lots of people who are struggling financially, not just servers and those in tip industries.
Online some have wondered why a tract like this would be used.
some noted: The gospel is more valuable than money. And that is a point of the tract.
The poster might say: True, but some argue you can’t eat a Bible or use tracts to pay rent.
👉but a Christian would note, that server can step into eternity before their shift ends (see footnote). What then is more important? The pricelessness of the Gospel of salvation, or a measly $10 they would leave behind.
Also, that is old looking American money. It no longer looks like that. So it would not be seen by anyone today as real money.
How can a Christians bless the Server?
1. Always ask the server if you can pray for them, for when you pray over your food.
If the waiter(ess) tells you shes struggling, you can:
A. pray about it for her/him.
B. possibly bless her:
*with a tip or a bit more tip,
*and maybe even gather believer friends to donate, and then (surprise bless) bring it to her (with some Christian material like Bible and couple booklets, your church Sunday bulletin, and your email contact card).
* The nearby seated folk might overhear & leave her a better tip too. 🙂. Be a blessing.
2. Believers can do well to consider also...
A. Handing tract to other tables on your way out, who likely heard that convo.
Consider this
Do we only share the Word when we give people money to listen? We shouldn't bribe people to read it, but the unsaved will judge you either way...
2 Timothy 4:2:
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."
Preach it wherever we go, whenever. Tracts at eateries are included in that.
The passage known as the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 also tells us to love God and share the Word with others wherever we go.
"Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
This passage emphasizes the importance of loving and serving God with all one's heart, soul, and strength, and discussing God's Word to others wherever you are. It also suggests various ways to incorporate God's words into daily life, such as discussing them at home, teaching them during daily activities, wherever you go, and displaying them prominently at home.
We are to good to our enemies and to strangers, so they might look to God (3). We also hope and pray they get saved, too, as we were redeemed and rescued and now have an eternal fellowship with our God and Savior.
So in keeping that in mind, we should be a good witness and example, even if our server is rude, not doing a good job, etc bcuz we do not know what there going thru (3), and we can give a good example of grace, mercy, forgiveness, loving what appears an enemy to us, and being gentle and patient as God did/does to us.
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even heathen doing that? And if you care only about your own [believers], what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount teaches his followers not only to love and do good to those they like or those who treat them well but also to extend love and kindness to their enemies and even pray for those who persecute them. It emphasizes the radical nature of Christian love, which goes beyond natural inclinations and extends to all people, irrespective of their actions or attitudes towards us. God shows common grace to even the unsaved, so should we, as we follow His example.
Jesus challenges his followers to go beyond what is expected and to demonstrate love and kindness even to those who are not part of their immediate community or who may be considered enemies. He emphasizes being a good witness, that showing love and kindness to one's enemies sets believers apart and reflects the character of God who is loving and gracious even to those who do not deserve it.
Luke 6:27-28:
"But I say to you love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
In this passage from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus instructs his disciples to love their enemies, do good to those who hate them, bless those who curse them, and pray for those who mistreat them. It emphasizes the radical and transformative nature of love and highlights the importance of responding to hostility and mistreatment with acts of kindness, compassion, and prayer.
We do not know which servers, busboys, cooks and staff are a believer (4), or are those who heard the word before and seeds were planted, and (Matt 13:1-23)...your godly witness can water what they already have, and they might give thanks to God bcuz of the good work God does thru you in that [and every] opportunity, and it will bring them another step towards salvation.
___________________________________________
About Tips: Tips are not lawfully required, they are voluntary & meant for customers who feel their waitress went far above and beyond service than normally given there or elsewhere. It is rare for that to happen. Servers should not expect nor demand tips, nor try to coherce people into giving them tips. Employers should be paying proper wages, and the employee needs to remember they took that job at that salary and with whatever conditions or that the contract says.
___________________________________________
Until tip culture is banned in USA...
If you tip, please tip decently, and continue irl to try to help push nationally to eliminate this problematic & outdated tip culture, which will also end the strife and anger among waiters towards customers and their bosses. Ending tip culture will help serving staff finally get normal wages like everyone else & everywhere else servers work globally.
What if you are a server and didnt get a cash tip?
>maybe the tip $ is on the receipt.
> no $ tip? maybe:
- they don't tip unless for some reason it far exceeds their expectations. 👉 Tips are voluntary.
They dont need other reasons to tip.
However:
- perhaps they do not have extra money to constantly tip people.
- many struggle financially too. For those who do tip... perhaps they just got back from hospital, used all their money for the big bill. or just came back from a funeral and paid a big bill, or just came back from an emergency
- maybe they intended to, but he isnt thinking straight today because of some very serious issue at home, or some shocking news like diagnosed with cancer, or their child is hospitalized, wife miscarried, or their mom died, or some other similar situation, perhaps work issues, maybe the boss didnt pay him today and he expected it on time, or has mental health strain today, or is having a hard day and it slipped his mind at the moment, he was just going thru motions and tried to look "normal". Intended to tip but just forgot. Who knows.
Maybe they are financially strapped but he wants to bless her w a Sunday meal like her grandparents or father who passed on always did on Sundays. And how do you know if they prayed for you that you will get a big tip that day to make up for the one they couldnt give you.
Servers should not have a tip demanding mentality. Customers become a victim in this recent tip culture entitlement mentality. Too many servers have a misunderstanding about tips & some have incorrect entitlement mentality that employers need to fix with education, until tip culture ends in America.
Tips are 100% voluntary, and it is not required by law. Thats why tips are tips.
What if you are a Christian waiter(ess) and had received this tract?
Christians servers, need to remind themselves they are to care about others over themselves.
>pray for them if they dont tip. Pray God provides for their situation, and for him continuing to provide for all your needs too.
>if you are not content with what you are paid & that God has provided for you, but dont want to change jobs for better career/pay, remember you took that job at that agreed pay, and can leave anytime.
If you are begrudging and bitter and if coveting $5.00 is that much of an issue to you, work on your heart change.
1. Pray God will provide for you, pray to submit to Him. Pray that perhaps if God wants to bless you with extra tips so you can bless others and be a good steward of that money, that he lay it on the hearts of believers to leave a tip, when He guides them to.
2. Contact your church financial team and see if they can go through your finances and help you with a little bit this month, and give you financial and career advice so you can make a living wage elsewhere.
3. If you want to continue to not be happy with what God provides for you...
God may give you less tips or shifts.
I dont really advocate for you inquiring of a customers tipping, but considerations....if the customer returns you can enquire but not with a demand or arm twisting attitude to shake down someone for money:
- Ask "if they go to a church nearby, and note you remember them from before because they left a tract, (which you passed on to others), but wasnt sure if the tip slipped out",
- and then ask "if you can pray for them for any need later during your break". *And make sure you do so.
* Regardless lovingly pray for them, to bless them. Thank God for always providing for you, and be content. 🙂
Christian Server:
You received a tract... now what?
Thank God for the tract 😀 and
1. Take a photo of it.
A. Maybe, with the folk who gave it to you? And Be partners in the gospel in that instance.
A2. Do a tract video clip.
If it is near your break time/clock out time when they leave, ask if theyd do a quick Gospel video with you outside, w ur phone. *Turn it into a opp to share to everyone you know. Make sure you are in the video holding the tract at the beginning, and pop back in to thank them for caring about others enough to leave a tract about the gospel.
* Then go send/share it to everyone you know, incl coworkers 😀.
"Look what happened at work!" 🎬
B. just you in the photo w the tract.
If they are still there, Tell them you're gonna take a pic and spread the gospel with it.
1. Share it with unsaved family & friends on facebook or social media or email. Use it for positive gospel opp. & thank God for that opportunity.
2. Give them folk an update, when they come back, on your social media evangelism opp u used it for reaching the unsaved family & friends online.
3. show/discuss the actual tract with the other tip makers at the company -- it is an excellent opp for you to share the gospel & let them all read it and look at it. If someone wants to keep it, let them have it.
*show it b4 the video is sent out; off work hrs
4. If no one wants it, praise God you can pass it on to someone else.
> if them folk come back, you can share how you shared it too 🙂
5. If you had such convos and interactions & did those things above, bring that praise report to your church, and encourage others to not only read this article, but do the Tract & Tip Challenge too.
*Perhaps make a video on the how to, and post it on the private church members group page, or by email request, or also to the outreach team.
*Maybe make it a monthly church challenge, (the sunday after payday).... and church folk will regularly do it regardless of the challenge.
>>And they can tell the server "they are participating in their church tip challenge this month to bless them." And when they get a tract with it, theyll have positive feelings bcuz Christians were trying to change servers perception of them.
Note to reader: remember, tips are voluntary anyway. Church folk have no legal obligation to tip and shouldnt be vilified if they dont tip.
Note to believers: You can still tract when tip culture finally ends in USA.
Other Questions:
Is it deceitful to put fake money tracts out?
Q: I personally feel like tracts of various sorts have hurt the modern Christian, because it has removed any sense of responsibility to make conversation and truly disciple them.
Not to mention, most often they have no follow up directions, where to plug into a church body, or answers for any deeper questions.
A: You are looking at this wrong. Your feelings don't direct what Scripture says about the Gospel.
- "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel"
- "Use any means necessary"
- "That I may by some means reach many"
The Gospel is not deceit nor deception, nor are the papers with that holy message. A Tract is simply an eye catcher to redirect from worldly things to spiritual... and you would know that if you are a Christian, or also had gone thru gospel training. It simply reminds people "you cannot believe what you see", or is a conversation starter. Some say they will believe if they can see it, but they cannot even trust their eyes to tell if something is an optical illusion or play money. There are reasons certain tracts are created. They all have their own purpose.
Most who look at it will laugh and say, "you had me in the 1st look 😂, and got me in the 2nd half 😇🤔". They realize it was a fun way to get their attention.
And similarly to a coin or fortune "cookie", they are eye catching and contain a message inside.
They could leave this instead:
There are things that brighten someones day and well designed tracts can do that.
See next FAQ, which corrects other assumption(s).
Most modern "Christians" don't even know the many things they believe are unbiblical. From teaching, to culture, to the Gospel. Many are false churches and false converts in the church, pointing fingers and wrongly judging or condemning God's "few laborers", cuz either they lack awareness of their error, or theyre false converts; messengers of Satan trying to discourage and stop the Gospel. God wont stop, nor will we. "My Father is working, and I am working" Jesus said. We redeemed also are about our Fathers business.
*Free book on the "modern" Christian message which hurts and harms, unlike the Biblical one. Download it now free.
Hope these links bless and educate you, so you can
*Ensure you are actually saved
*Go serve your King.
Q: Is there concern people will be upset when finding a fake money bill? Wont they resent the gospel; have disappointment and annoyance?
A: If you are leaving a tip at eatery after a meal you def should be leaving real money and should use a diff tract. I use this one, cuz I can slide the $ into it.
However, it is important to note the article image shown was not being left in place of a tip, but could be about showing various places a believer can randomly leave them. This example image was from a wfh flier not a tract, tho I have seen that old one as a print at home tract in 2000. Here is a sample tract:
Hardly anyone uses those anymore. Today tracts, at least since 2005/2010 have become much better designed and people love them. *so the top above image is just a old recycled one recirculating online that Satan uses to cause division, hate & frustration. Let's not let him try to puppeteer our thoughts and feelings, instead focus on what we can use today instead, and be glad the gospel is shared.
There are so many people who love & want money tracts. Example: the recent King coronation had people flocking to get extras for people they know. The London evangelism event gave out over 16-20 million of these tracts there, in USA, in UK, AU & Canada etc. Over 4 million alone in London, and they were all gone in less than 15 minutes. Those were money tracts.
And everyone loves the American money designed ones too. Here is 1 example:
When I hand them out people come back and ask for a few more. One time I gave one to a fast taco style eatery cashier and all the staff behind them cooking & packers all wanted one too.
Just pick good tracts, for use at appropriate places.
Candace Bure, co-host of “The View,” heard about those old money tracts and noted, “You have to put Something with it." She noted, those tracts are not good to leave in that location by itself as it is would be a bad representation of a Christianity. You need to include real money if you leave one of those. >>Of course if you put money on the receipt as a tip then its fine.
>>As noted above, those old folded ones are not the right place for those. Use other ones.
Example of right place.
See vid clip here @8:38
Charles Spurgeon said,
“Let each one of us, if we have done nothing for Christ, begin to do something now. The distribution of tracts is the first thing…When preaching and private talk are not available, you need to have a tract ready. Get good striking tracts, or none at all. But a touching gospel tract may be the seed of eternal life. Therefore, do not go out without your tracts.”
Q: How does a paper help if "I" think convos are best?
A: Well...
1.Well, are you having those convos? Every time you are eating out, checking out at every store and every place you go? No? I see, so judging others but not doing what you preach. You do also realize it is wrong to take up an employees work time to chit chat, or too long. They are being paid to do a job, and not only are you causing them to steal employers time, but especially so if you chat too long.
2. From experience I know that people have to leave and cannot stick around to chat, even if they wanted to. Sometimes a bus arrives, a taxi, a mom. A school class is about to start etc, you cannot hold people up, but the tract can help finish that conversation; and get to the most important half of the convo - why they need Jesus and what he did for their salvation. The tract will do that for you. And they'll have it as a reminder whenever they look at it.
These tracts contain the Word of God and Scripture, but much more as well. Unlike Bible times.
While the Ethiopian eunuch was left alone to go follow God soley with Scripture. Today we have addl ways to help those who we encounter:
👉Churches.
>Discipleship classes for new believers
👉Pastors
👉Internet
👉Sermons online
👉Studies online
👉FAQ answers online
👉 Reputable Ministries helping for these things
👉Digital Bible, free
👉We now have the printing press
👉👉Printed books (containing a million resources)
*👉and tracts
Many get saved by tracts, go to the tract listed website, such as needGod.com and are provided resources: thru new believer steps, which redirects to mini discipleship ("what now") and church search links, plus free material in that site.
We have a ton more than previous people had avail and much quicker. It is one reason Jesus told us "you marvel at this, there's coming a time... & once I leave....where you will do much more than this".
Also, a tract in print is the same as a digital link. And they're all effective. Would you not share the Gospel online in text format, by link, or QR code? It is also "in print". Words are words. The Bible itself is a giant gospel tract; starting in Genesis. You wouldnt give a Bible for discipleship? That's all the Ethiopian had and needed. And it contains the gospel mesage, just as tracts do.
Tracts are written words. It is a thought provoking convo. It is a convo God is having with the reader. Tracts are handy there and in public, and as a "to read and consider later" tool. The entire Bible is a gospel conversation from God to mankind, starting in Genesis. God has given us the written word, and we can use tracts to pass that word on via gospel tracts.
Can God use tracts to save?
Yes, and He does. "The Gospel is the power unto salvation." and "God's Word will not return void; it will accomplish what God wants it to". I hope you start using tracts more, many get saved from them, and they also plant seeds of truth towards salvation.
Money tracts have been around for many years. They were first used in the early 1800s by Christian missionaries. The idea was to attract people's attention with the realistic look of the money, and then use the opportunity to share the gospel message.
Hope this has helped you think through your assumptions, to learn something new, and to give you some things to think about. It is possible you are a believer and never realized nor were educated on these things before. I am glad you were curious about the best ways we can spread the Word well. And your concern that we do well in our witness too.
Non Christian or Unsure Believer...
If you realized, after going thru that above Gospel link, that you are actually not saved, get right with God today. Humbly pray, repent, and put your trust in Jesus, (who did 100% of the work God required for you to be saved). Then go read the Bible and obey what you read, and join a local biblical church & get discipled.
Helpful resources
Useful Footnotes:
(*) More & More, incl Gen Z are tipping less.
-According to Yahoo, 2023
(3) How you behave and treat unsaved people reflects on how they see Jesus.
Matthew 5:16 says, "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."
"Live such good lives among the Gentiles that though they may mock your faith, through seeing your good works they may recognize Christ when He reveals himself to them"
1 Peter 2:12
(4) cautionary reminder
that server might be a new believer, and if a believer, Christ lives in that person, and what we do towards them (thought word or deed), we are doing to Christ.
Matthew 25:40: Jesus said, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
(5) The farmer who gave wages to servants, giving the amount he wanted to, of his own money. And remembering the cheerful giver. While these are not directly related to tips, it can provide a reminder that believers can bless others, even praying for enemies and others is a blessing too. However we go about something and whatever we do should be done in love and to help point people to Jesus and truth. However they think and their behavior is not our concern tbh, God knows our intentions and we can respond rightly when people hate us, abuse us, verbally or otherwise, and even if they think badly of us. The world Hates God and Jesus and therefore will hate Christians, unless God is drawing them to Himself. Serve God faithfully and leave it in His hands.
💥Servers can enter eternity b4 their shift ends. So, do leave them a tract.
(1) Staff have died before their shift even started. Some die when domestic attack, by customers, robbers, thug activity happen, or gunmen bust in, or even right after their shift before they even leave, on the way home, and others dont make it back to work the next day.
That Gospel tract is more valuable to them today than $5, $10 or $20 tip. They wont even get to spend it tomorrow.
(2) when I was 19 I had to take over for a waitress and do her section and mine. I hadnt been a waitress long, and only on weekends. There were rude older women at a table who were acting like this was burher king and they expected their food in 5 minutes. They had been waiting 15 min already and kept being rude and demanding. Then I took over for my coworker to serve them. They were horrible customers. But customer is king unless a manager says otherwise. It was a horrible shift for me. I finally asked for their patience and told them [what they have no idea about bcuz things happen behind the scenes and we have to keep poker face on the job and be professional]. Their waitress had mistakenly dropped a gallon of milk in the walk in freezer and she slipped on it and knocked her head on the ground, and was unconscious. An ambulance came for her. All of which they had no idea had happened. >I was filling in for that gal while trying to juggle my tables too.
🙏 Customers need to consider there's all kinds of things that could happen behind the scenes at a restaurant, and be patient and kind to servers & staff regardless.
In closing, do not look upon it as a crummy tract. Getting the gospel to as many people as possible is important. 160k people die every day, and that Christian with a tract cared enough to get your attention and try to help you. They were trying to bless you, no matter when or where you received it, and what it looked like.
Believers care about you.
"And [Jesus] said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone.'" Mark 16:15
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes
Romans 1:16
What matters is your salvation.
Make sure you are right with God 👈today,
right now, get this urgent matter settled.
God bless.
End note:
Some menu's state 18% on parties over table of 8 or 10. Some states dont make that compulsury, since tips are optional nationwide. However, some areas make it legal to require that menu fee. You would need to look up if its mandatory fee at a eatery legally binding or a actual suggested fee. Many in business areas add the fee for business meals, to get money from companies, which is very tacky to do.
Today most people have no issue "looking up or calling and asking" about that fee/policy/legality with eatery and local laws. And either getting to go individually to avoid it, or finding a diff eatery! Personally I am not giving such a huge tip, even with a tract. Those employers need to pay a proper wage, (& without price increases; like Europe & UK regions).
Final footnote:
Gptchat and Bard AI provided history on tracts used in 1800s by Reformers.
(1)Tracts have been around for many years. They were first used in the 1800s by Christian missionaries. The idea was to attract people's attention with the realistic look, and then use the opportunity to share the gospel message.
(2)The first known examples of money tracts designed to look like money were produced in the 1800s. These tracts were often used by street preachers and evangelists to attract attention and start conversations about Christianity.
The practice of using money tracts designed to look like money continued into the 20th century.
Comments
Post a Comment