Restaurants, Chick Tracts, and the Ensuing Confusion that Invariably Came About

Posted on October 9, 2007 by Charles Churchill

A while back, I went to an IHOP with a bunch of friends (who shall all remaining nameless, mainly to protect the identity of one of them) and we had a really great, horrible meal. What I mean by that, is our waiter was brand spanking new, possibly even his first night on the job, and we were four guys in no particular hurry. In a lot of ways, it was like dinner and a show. I’d also like to stress that we were very polite to him, only gave him a little good-natured ribbing – just enough to let him know that we really weren’t upset at all, and we tipped him well. Anyway, one of the guys also left him a tract along with the tip, and that was that.

Except it wasn’t. We were just a few minutes out of the restaurant when I realized exactly what specific tract my friend had left and what a newbie waiter might think of it. Here’s what the waiter saw when he came to the table:

Somebody Goofed

What I wondered was this: had this guy ever heard of the practice of leaving gospel tracts at tables before? Was his first thought, “You mean people have taken the time to print a pamphlet to give to waiters who screw up? Seriously?!? And why are there devils dancing and laughing on the cover?”

I didn’t have the heart to go back inside and explain…

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  • http://sola5.blogspot.com Quintin

    Wow – I just read that tract… I don’t think that tract presents the Gospel in any clear light. It is so ironic, the ‘devil’ accuses the old man of teaching fear of hell, and that is the last thing a reader is left with.

    But hey, that’s just me. I wouldn’t hand those tracts out.

  • http://sola5.blogspot.com Quintin

    Wow – I just read that tract… I don’t think that tract presents the Gospel in any clear light. It is so ironic, the ‘devil’ accuses the old man of teaching fear of hell, and that is the last thing a reader is left with.

    But hey, that’s just me. I wouldn’t hand those tracts out.

  • http://thepreacher.cac2.net Charles

    I wouldn’t hand those tracts out.

    I tend to feel the same way about that one Quintin, though there are some Chick tracts that are decent.

  • http://thepreacher.cac2.net Charles

    I wouldn’t hand those tracts out.

    I tend to feel the same way about that one Quintin, though there are some Chick tracts that are decent.

  • http://sola5.blogspot.com Quintin

    Yes, I think they are really well done and something of that nature can be very helpful. I feel I must apologize, the one thing I have to realize is that God is sovereign and can use even the worst of things to draw those whom He wills to Himself. I should not get angry or arrogant, I was not in the situation, nor have I done any evangelism lately.

    So at least you guys are doing something. I’m sorry if I came off like the sinner I am. It was this tract [HERE] that convinced me against chick tracts. After reading it I’m sure you’ll see why I changed to these [HERE].

    God bless

  • http://sola5.blogspot.com Quintin

    Yes, I think they are really well done and something of that nature can be very helpful. I feel I must apologize, the one thing I have to realize is that God is sovereign and can use even the worst of things to draw those whom He wills to Himself. I should not get angry or arrogant, I was not in the situation, nor have I done any evangelism lately.

    So at least you guys are doing something. I’m sorry if I came off like the sinner I am. It was this tract [HERE] that convinced me against chick tracts. After reading it I’m sure you’ll see why I changed to these [HERE].

    God bless

  • http://thepreacher.cac2.net Charles

    Quintin,
    You didn’t offend me. I tend not to use most Chick tracts because of the reasons you mention. I like some of the Living Waters stuff as well. In general, I tend to use conversation over tracts most of the time. I just thought the story about a waiter who messed up getting a “Somebody Goofed” tract was funny.

    Take care,
    Charles

  • http://thepreacher.cac2.net Charles

    Quintin,
    You didn’t offend me. I tend not to use most Chick tracts because of the reasons you mention. I like some of the Living Waters stuff as well. In general, I tend to use conversation over tracts most of the time. I just thought the story about a waiter who messed up getting a “Somebody Goofed” tract was funny.

    Take care,
    Charles