Eating Out on Sundays?

[Thousand Hills]

I'm sure this has been covered before at some time. But the going to the movies thread got me thinking about this one, and another that I will start a new thread on.

But what are everyone's thoughts on going out to eat at a restaurant after church on Sunday. I've heard some say that its wrong since it causes others to work on the Sabbath. Also, I've heard on the Dave Ramsey show, when he does his tipping stories segment, that a lot of waiters don't like the church crowds because they make a mess and are horrible tippers (which probably isn't the greatest witness). What do you all think?

 

[Salty]

...But what are everyone's thoughts on going out to eat at a restaurant after church on Sunday. I've heard some say that its wrong since it causes others to work on the Sabbath. Also, I've heard ..., that a lot of waiters don't like the church crowds because they make a mess and are horrible tippers (which probably isn't the greatest witness). What do you all think?

Well, first of all , I have no problem eating out on the Sabbath - Saturday is a great time to go to a restaurant for supper. That way Mrs Salty doesn't have to worry about cleaning up the kitchen; that way it is easier to prepare for the Lords Day.

If the church crowd are bad tippers (some only leave a Bible track) then we should go and leave a generous tip with the Bible track - ie 15-25%

Also, I normally stack all my dishes - after eating all my meal.

Salty

 

[Thousand Hills]

Well, first of all , I have no problem eating out on the Sabbath - Saturday is a great time to go to a restaurant for supper.

Sorry, my bad, I typed the post too fast, you know what I meant :smilewinkgrin:

 

[annsni]

We will eat out on Sundays (LOVE to eat out on Sundays because for some reason, I get lazy on Sunday and don't want to cook) and we always make sure we tip well.

Why are we holding the unsaved to Old Testament law? That's always been my question.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Why are we holding the unsaved to Old Testament law?

Worse yet are the seven-fold children of hell we make those who claim to be saved and hold them to man-made rules or to Jewish laws.

The law showed man how sinful he was and that he could not obey it all. Yet man still fails and thinks he can bribe God with doing stuff . . .

 

[abcgrad94]

Thousand Hills, if you search the archives here, you might be able to find a thread from a year or two ago where we talked about tipping and how it affects our testimony.

I have no problem with eating out on Sunday.

 

[targus]

That way Mrs Salty doesn't have to worry about cleaning up the kitchen

Is there anything preventing Mr. Salty from cleaning the kitchen?

My wife has not had to cook a meal or wash the dishes for many years. :saint:

 

[freeatlast]

I'm sure this has been covered before at some time. But the going to the movies thread got me thinking about this one, and another that I will start a new thread on.

But what are everyone's thoughts on going out to eat at a restaurant after church on Sunday. I've heard some say that its wrong since it causes others to work on the Sabbath. Also, I've heard on the Dave Ramsey show, when he does his tipping stories segment, that a lot of waiters don't like the church crowds because they make a mess and are horrible tippers (which probably isn't the greatest witness). What do you all think?

First the Sabbath was and always will be Saturday the 6th day, not Sunday the 1st day. So Sunday is not the Sabbath. God never changed the day. Second going out to eat after church does not keep someone else from attending church. They can attend on Wed. or Sunday nights and in large cities there is always someplace to attend on Saturday.
As far a tipping I also have heard that complaint about Christians, but I am not sure if it is accurate or not. I hope not. In any case I would not try and over tip because of some claim as that. I think the call is for 15 to 20 percent. I determine the amount depending on the service. So go and eat out if you like and leave a tract along with the tip.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Unless I'm running through the drive thru, we aren't eating out on Sunday anymoe than we shop on Sunday!

I actually prefer to cook on Sunday (Saturday too for that matter), because I have more time on those days to COOK rather than just throwing together something for supper. And too, my husband likes to cook and the weekends are his only chance to do so. We usually eat good on the weekends!

Eating out is generally left to Friday night pizza or a Saturday where we have to do the "monthly shop". I can't cook and shop that much on the same day so sometimes we'll eat out. Lately though, I've spread out the monthly shop over a couple of days so its not quite so hard. The husband doesn't really like shopping for two cartfuls of groceries anyhow! :laugh:

 

[glfredrick]

We will eat out on Sundays (LOVE to eat out on Sundays because for some reason, I get lazy on Sunday and don't want to cook) and we always make sure we tip well.

Why are we holding the unsaved to Old Testament law? That's always been my question.

Precisely... Sunday is not the Sabbath and if it is, ALL of us are violating the tenets.

AS one who has worked restaurants for the Sunday church crowd during another phase of my life, I do know that the church crowd is probably the worst one of the entire week. Even the people during bar rush at 2 am are better patrons (when they're not having food fights, that is). Church people come in with a dozen kids in tow, want everything given to them (including free extras for the kiddos), make huge messes, and rarely ever tip well (or at all!). More, they tie up tables for their "after-church membership meetings" (any Baptist knows that the real business of the church is handled after church in restaurants) for hours thus hurting business and profits.

We go out often on Sundays, and treat people well. One of the first things is asking our server if there is anything that we can lift up in prayer while we bless the meal. We've seen servers break down in tears while doing that. We've also left tips large enough to take care of people in need.

It is now cliché to say it, but what exactly WOULD Jesus do if He went out to Sunday dinner after church? Think the staff would be pressed and harassed or blessed?

 

[jaigner]

Speaking as a former server, please don't leave a tract. It will probably get thrown away or, worse, it might be read. They are notorious for bad theology, anyways.

You will make a much better statement if you treat your server with grace, respect and tip them in a way consistent with grace.

Trust me on this.

 

[glfredrick]

I agree with jaigner.

From a personal standpoint, tracts are a horrible way to evangelize anyway. Way too cold and impersonal for Jesus' work. Jesus was/is a "people person" and told us to gp and tell, not go and leave impersonal pieces of paper. We should take note of that and get personal with people, including the servers that we hardly notice while we're so all-consumed about our own satisfaction.

Like I said above, if Jesus were along with us at a restaurant for lunch, what would He do with the servers? :saint:

 

[Iconoclast]

http://www.vor.org/truth/1689/1689bc19.html

 

[freeatlast]

We go out often on Sundays, and treat people well. One of the first things is asking our server if there is anything that we can lift up in prayer while we bless the meal. We've seen servers break down in tears while doing that. We've also left tips large enough to take care of people in need.

It is now cliché to say it, but what exactly WOULD Jesus do if He went out to Sunday dinner after church? Think the staff would be pressed and harassed or blessed?

I think this approach is very good, in fact excellent, but I would not rule out a tract as well along with a tip. Many people have come to know the Lord just through a tract and many people today are not comfortable in witnessing. This is not an excuse to not learn and grow, but fact, and until they learn a tract can be a tool from them. If the rest of their actions while at the restaurant is seen as different (godly) then any other witness will not go un-seen including a tract.

 

[Iconoclast]

._____ The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.
( Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Matthew 12:1-13 )

 

[freeatlast]

._____ The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.
( Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Matthew 12:1-13 )

So what exactly are you saying? Are you saying that you follow the sabbath laws?

 

[SBCPreacher]

We rarely eat out or shop on Sundays. It's a conviction we have, but we don't condemm those who do. We don't see it as some kind of command. We just don't want to be a reason why someone can't go to church (assuming they might want to).

 

[Alcott]

We just don't want to be a reason why someone can't go to church (assuming they might want to).

Then if you break a bone or have a heart attack Saturday night or Sunday morning, keep it a secret until Monday. Else, EMT's, nurses, residents, technicians, janitors, et al, may be kept from going to church (assuming they might want to).

 

[Iconoclast]

So what exactly are you saying? Are you saying that you follow the sabbath laws?

Not the ceremonial aspects of the Jewish theocracy which have been fulfilled
in Jesus Christ.Acts15 col2. However the ten commandments are still in effect . Christians keep the ten commandments.

 

[annsni]

We rarely eat out or shop on Sundays. It's a conviction we have, but we don't condemm those who do. We don't see it as some kind of command. We just don't want to be a reason why someone can't go to church (assuming they might want to).

I don't shop or eat when we go to church so....

Uh-oh!! However, our church meets in a hotel and there are employees that must set up for us in order for us to have our church service. What should we do? :smilewinkgrin: