The story linked below is from a PR website, where the discussion is about how PR professionals can deal with PR issues, and their story deals with the incident as a PR crisis for Applebee’s. Frankly, I don’t care about that perspective, here in my blog. I care, about the underlying story and what happened.

Last Friday, the pastor of St. Louis-based church Truth in the World Deliverance Ministries took her congregation to an Applebee’s after an evening service. The receipt for the meal added an 18 percent gratuity, which is restaurant policy for parties of eight or more. However, Pastor Alois Bell crossed out the 18 percent and left the server a note that said: “I give God 10% why do you get 18.”

It is common practice to tip the wait staff, and common too, for establishments to add a set gratuity for large parties. This is basic practice. We can argue:

• Should wait staff receive a portion of their pay by tip, and if so, what portion?
• Should an establishment add an automatic charge for large groups?

But no matter what we decide in either case, the pastor’s actions prompt a different issue. Who really deserves our money- people or God? And specifically, if we decide it to be God, isn’t the pastor being selfish since God doesn’t use US currency?

If you participate in a Christian Church, you may give money to the church. Some institutions go so far as to dictate the percent that you give, also called tithing when that percent is 10% What does that cover? It pays the church mortgage or rent; utilities; and the pastor’s salary. No amount of it goes to God directly, but all of it, one hopes goes to doing “God’s work” so to speak.

So, Pastor Bell gives God 10% and I wonder how much of that goes back to herself? What do you think?

In reality, Pastor Bell gives God no money what-so-ever. God doesn’t accept US currency. This focus on God, and this fallacy of what we give to God, is a step back to the Dark Ages or further. It is one more example of a growing American Theocracy where God is at the apex of everything.

A secondary comment- all of the hullabaloo is over about six bucks! Six freakin’ bucks! The pastor is concerned that the poor server will get about $3.00 more than she gives to God. Really?  The Dark Ages were a time when THE CHURCH mattered above all else, and Pastor Bell doesn’t want her server to get about three dollars. Talk about Christians caring to help the poor!

via Applebee’s in PR firestorm for firing server who shared receipt | Articles | Home.