Oh yeah. I used to get 2 or 3 of those every Sunday afternoon. I got used to it and eventually didn't mind as long as they left some real money with it, but the first time you think you're getting $20 and it's just a piece of garbage is a real disappointment.

Do they really think someone's going to want to join their church after getting jerked around like that?

Growing up evangelical I saw it all the time. Very regular occurrence

Did you go to church and put it into the collection plate?

After all, Matthew, Mark, Luke and even Thomas all confirm Jesus said, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's."

These people are playing at being God, and deserve their play money back.

Sorry that happened, though can't say I'm surprised to hear it happens more frequently than that one-off example. I feel like it must be common anywhere there's an intersection between low economic opportunity and sanctimonious Christian smugness.

They probably think it's like a cheat code to avoid paying while still somehow earning more good boy points with god.

(Not to say I'm a fan of tip culture either, but that's how waitstaff get paid in the US, and stiffing one person on a tip isn't going to change that.)

And the Midwest isn't even the real deep religious area of the US.

Yup, I've been tipped these more than once before

Its cult behavior.

Surreptitious proselytizing?

Cult behavior.

They're just in the cult, so they don't see it that way, because their brains are tied up in pretzels of cognitive dissonance.

Do the equivalent to them, in a different flavor?

Much howling and gnashing of teeth.

We hired a contractor to fix our roof and he left one in each bathroom stall.

I.. Simply dont understand

I even got one of them in germany

Nope, mine was up north and I got way more than that.

I've seen lots of religious people leave pamphlets, but they've also always left tips. Usually good tips as a way to sell that they're nice and care about you.