This is an open call to any and all share your knowledge of the Bible or your ability to use google. Here's the short of it.

I work for a pretty wicked/evil dude. I'm scheduled to work Christmas Eve. Been at the job 7 years. Never worked Christmas Eve before. Its my fathers birthday, the night we start our Christmas celebration, and the most special night of the year for our family. I talked with the boss today and he told me to call back tomorrow and find out his decision.

No matter what the decision is, I'm not going to work Saturday night. If I don't go (unexcused) there's a high likely-hood that I'll be terminated. I was thinking as a preemtive meausure I would go ahead and draft a letter explaining why I won't be able to work and dropping it off Saturday afternoon. I've found in the past that when I rely on the teachings of the Bible when dealing with this guy he's stymied and I've always had a positive outcome. My goal is to keep my job while having Saturday night off, without issue. I will say that I've never meet anyone like my boss. He's seriously one of a kind. So....

In the event that I don't go (unexcused), what does the Bible say about asking mercy of wicked men? ie; Please don't fire me.

[Edited on December 21, 2011 at 2:41 AM. Reason : .]

12/21/2011 2:39:05 AM

Are you serious? You would get fired rather than work one day?



Gotta be a troll thread

[Edited on December 21, 2011 at 2:57 AM. Reason : o]

12/21/2011 2:54:23 AM

^^ If youre not planning on being there, dont wait until Saturday to give him the letter because that will screw him over last minute and it will be a major pain in the ass for him to cover your shift. If youre just refusing to come in, which I wont give my opinion on, give him as much advance notice so that he can prepare for the absence, not waste his/your/the fill-ins time on xmas eve scrambling to figure it out.

12/21/2011 3:04:50 AM

The Bible doesn't make Christmas Eve holy, in fact the birth of the Savior is believed to have happened in April, and Christmas was regarded as heretical by the Puritans (being a retooled version of the pagan Roman feast of Saturnalia, with bits and pieces from other traditions), banned by the Pilgrims, and not even made a Federal holiday until 1870.

With that said, fuck your family and go to work, bitch.

12/21/2011 3:27:52 AM

Either go to work, or give him as much advanced notice as possible that you don't intend to. I'm not sure what Bible says on the matter, but if you're aiming to do the right thing, then don't leave him hanging by telling him last minute on Saturday afternoon.

If you're trying to use the Bible to justify doing something other than the right thing and get away with it, then you're doing it wrong.

Although I guess you do have a long tradition of people selectively picking passages and interpreting said book to fall back on.

[Edited on December 21, 2011 at 3:50 AM. Reason : .]

12/21/2011 3:49:41 AM

Quote :

"If you're trying to use the Bible to justify doing something other than the right thing and get away with it, then you're doing it wrong."

Go to work... or don't. If you don't give him as much notice as possible--ie tell him now instead of a passive aggressive note on Saturday. As others have said the Bible doesn't put a premium on Christmas Eve, or Christmas for that matter.

12/21/2011 6:31:18 AM

having to work on christmas eve? sounds like the TragicNature of the line of work you've chosen

12/21/2011 6:41:52 AM

throwing away a job in this economy is a terrible decision, regardless of your religious beliefs

12/21/2011 7:15:07 AM

what kind of job is this?

medical field? retail? EMS/popo/fire?

12/21/2011 7:20:14 AM

Using the bible as a crutch so you're not tempted to sin is bad enough. Using the bible to get a day off from work is down right disgusting.

12/21/2011 7:23:13 AM

If you have to ask teedub about the bible, that's a sign that you don't really care about it.

12/21/2011 7:27:26 AM

Quote :

"I work for a pretty wicked/evil dude."

Sounds pretty judgmental, for a Christian to say

12/21/2011 8:39:37 AM

I'm guessing you don't work retail because most shops close by 7pm. Plenty of time to do whatever afterwards.

12/21/2011 8:47:10 AM

Quote :

"If you have to ask teedub about the bible, that's a sign that you don't really care about it. haven't read either. "

12/21/2011 8:47:47 AM

LOL at this motherfucker acting like the first person to ever have to work on a holiday

12/21/2011 9:01:59 AM

Quote :

"Are you serious? You would get fired rather than work one day?"

Quote :

"Sounds pretty judgmental, for a Christian to say"

Quote :

"LOL at this motherfucker acting like the first person to ever have to work on a holiday"

And I thought Easter was supposed to be the big Christian holiday...

12/21/2011 9:04:45 AM

I never expected the thread of the year would come at the end of December.

12/21/2011 9:21:05 AM

Bob Cratchit is disappointed in you

12/21/2011 9:23:42 AM

While it sucks that you have to work, if you believe an follow what the Bible says, take a look at 1 Peter 2:13-21

Quote :

"  13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.  18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."

12/21/2011 9:58:06 AM

this is a terrible idea. you'd be screwing a co-worker into working for you at the very least. if you ever want to use the job on your resume you should have put in a two weeks notice...10 days ago.

12/21/2011 10:04:29 AM

I say just don't show up. I don't see how you could be a disposable employee if you've been working there for 7 years.

12/21/2011 10:05:00 AM

Catholic Church says that you are excused from Mass & Holy days if you are required to work

[Edited on December 21, 2011 at 10:07 AM. Reason : sadf]

12/21/2011 10:07:01 AM

Don't go.

12/21/2011 10:07:01 AM

This problem will become clearer once you take some of dat 190% Deer Antler Velvet Supplement IGF-1

12/21/2011 10:07:50 AM

Need to know the line of work.

If you are in retail you will not be finding another job in Jan or Feb so you might want to re-think this plan. I do not fault you at all for putting family before work, I worked a lot of retail holidays and missed out on time with family who is no longer around to visit with.....work is important but you have to live your life too. I am assuming you do not have any kids to feed or anything.

Also use some common sense, do not write a letter saying you refuse to come to work on a day you know you are supposed to be there. If he fires you for one absence and you go to get unemployment later he will not have much to stand on, (which is why most companies use write ups on three levels prior to termination).

You could counter that you worked there 7 years and were never absent and this one incident was an oversight/emergency/etc that you are good employee who was wrongfully terminated, the ESC would be a lot more likely to side with you vs him in that case and approve your benefits.

An unemployment hearing is just like any other hearing, the guy with paperwork in his favor usually wins. Do not write a letter that is going to tie your hands explaining what happened later.

[Edited on December 21, 2011 at 10:15 AM. Reason : .]

12/21/2011 10:14:59 AM

to the OP:

Don't be fucking retarded. Do not quit your job or do anything that you know will get you fired unless you already have another job lined up or you have enough $texas in the bank to cover all your expenses for 3-6 months.


Anything the bible says will have no impact on your bills not getting paid. I can assure you that when Mr Bill Collector comes calling, he's not gonna give a fuck about what chapter & verse you can spit. All he's gonna care about is that money.


tl;dr - don't be a dumbass.

12/21/2011 10:57:41 AM

if you've been there 7 years, what has happened in the past as far as working christmas?

12/21/2011 10:59:41 AM

if you knew it was going to be a workday, why didn't you use a vacation day?

don't get vacation days? find a better job. (but don't be a dumbass and quit this bitch before you secure another job)

12/21/2011 11:07:01 AM

At first I was reading TaterSalad's exerpt from scripture thinking it was taken out of context, but in your situation it's pretty accurate. The question isn't is there a 'right' thing to do here that we can tell you to do.

The question is whether you believe it is honestly 'wrong' to work on Christmas Eve. I'm not saying 'do you think it is Holy', but do you think it is 'right' to you, your family, and your personal cultural beliefs. If you don't think it's 'wrong', yet you simply don't want to work, then this isn't a moral/spiritual issue. If you do think it's wrong, then Romans 14:23 tells us that 'if you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.' Again, the caveat is obviously whether you really believe it's wrong or if you are just not wanting to work.

Whatever the case may be, don't feel like quiting your job, in and of itself, is a 'wrong thing to do', at least not morally. Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes over and over again about all the things of the world that are 'meaningless' and labor is one of them.

Quote :

"So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)"

Point being that your job, in an of itself, is not worth sacrificing the more important things that God has put into your life. Again, if you truly believe that Christmas Eve is something sacred, kind of like modern Christians not working on Sundays, then you have to prioritize your beliefs over these things that Solomon describes as meaningless.

Seems like what the scriptures are saying is that you have to ask yourself whether you really feel it's wrong to work on Christmas Eve or if you simply don't want to work. That's the question you have to ask yourself before you can get a clear answer from scriptures.

-----------

On a legal note, it's illegal for him to fire you for not working Christmas Eve if you are participating in something religious in nature. That's descrimination. Then again, if you play this card, you might survive through Christmas but get fired for something else down the road.

12/21/2011 12:40:42 PM

Quote :

"On a legal note, it's illegal for him to fire you for not working Christmas Eve if you are participating in something religious in nature. That's descrimination."

I mean, if dude is like "I'm firing you because you did not work on Christmas Eve", sure. But come on.

12/21/2011 12:44:42 PM

Quote :

"I worked a lot of retail holidays and missed out on time with family who is no longer around to visit with....."

Bullshit excuse. If you're seriously worried about spending time with family there are 364 other days of the year that you could do it.

To the OP, the bible says you're being an asshole for trying to use a contrived biblical excuse for doing something that's purely selfish.

12/21/2011 12:47:08 PM

If I was still pretending to be Christian, I'd say that Christmas isn't even discussed in the bible. God doesn't care if you commemorate the birth of his son. He'd rather you actually live by the principles outlined in the bible. That means you need to quit your job, sell your stuff, and devote your life to serving the poor. I'm certain your family will understand.

12/21/2011 12:51:14 PM

^^^Hey, I agree with you.... it's a stretch, but some faiths actually do have spiritual commitments on Christmas Eve. If we have any Roman Catholics on the boards (who actually want to own up to it) they can confirm this, but I think they usually have mass all Christmas Eve. I'm not saying that you should take a job as a bagger at Food Lion to court, but its always a card you can play if you're really that afraid of losing your job and you really think it's morally wrong to work Christmas Eve.

^The part you're leaving out of that is that if celebrating a holiday like Christmas is how you spiritually connect to God, (i.e. the participation in services, mass, fellowshiping with your Christians friends and family,..... not the presents part) and you feel it is 'right' to do those things, then you are compelled to participate in those events. That was the exerpt from Romans I quoted.

[Edited on December 21, 2011 at 12:55 PM. Reason : ...]

12/21/2011 12:52:51 PM

Quote :

" I think they usually have mass all Christmas Eve"

it's by no means compulsory. and it starts at midnight.

12/21/2011 12:54:52 PM

^^ There is nothing spiritual about this guy's reasons for wanting off

Quote :

"Its my fathers birthday, the night we start our Christmas celebration, and the most special night of the year for our family."

He's just mad that he has to work on a holiday

[Edited on December 21, 2011 at 12:58 PM. Reason : crazy apostrophes everywhere lol]

12/21/2011 12:57:08 PM

^^Ah, thanks. Not sure if the compulsory part matters or not. Technically going to church on Sunday mornings isn't compulsory, but that doesn't mean you can't sue an employer who tells you to work Sunday mornings from 8AM-12PM on grounds of religious persecution. I know many churches do events on Christmas Eve.................................. but then again, that's not the scenario the OP laid out, so maybe it's a moot point.

^Oh, completely agree. I guess that's why I was emphasizing the difference between 'believing it's wrong to work' and 'not wanting to work'. The Bible doesn't have a lot of good things to say about laziness. Haha.

12/21/2011 12:58:37 PM

Quote :

"but I think they usually have mass all Christmas Eve."

Dear Lord I would have died as a kid if I had been stuck in mass all day of the 24th Catholic churches usually have several services just like other churches. My family always did midnight mass.

12/21/2011 1:15:00 PM

don't quit your job. I have enough problems paying taxes to support these out of work fuckers without adding another dumbass to the group.

Ask your dad, I highly doubt he will be "quit your job so you can hang out with me son, and when you get evicted b/c you can't pay rent, you can stay with me and be a financial burden to me".

12/21/2011 1:19:55 PM

Who cares if he fires you, Obama will give you 100+ weeks of unemployment.

I say blow him off.

12/21/2011 1:37:21 PM

my church (Catholic) has Christmas Eve @ 5pm, 8pm, Midnight, then 10am only on Christmas Day this year.

Since Christmas is on Sunday this year that's all they do...usually Sunday stays on normal schedule around Christmas

12/21/2011 1:53:47 PM

As an ordained minister of the Church of Atheism, my advice is to GO DO YOUR FUCKING JOB.

12/21/2011 2:00:54 PM

^^^^Yeah, I guess 'all Christmas Eve' really meant 'all evening Christmas Eve'. I grew up Episcopal and anytime we do any kind fo mass-esqe service it takes an eternity. That is one thing I like about my current church... they are very family-oriented so they don't want to keep you in church for extraordinary amounts of time on the holidays.

raiden brings up a good point and it all factors into the laziness thing. If you want to quit because you 'don't want to work' on a holiday, then it speaks more to your work ethic than it does to the morality of the situation.

12/21/2011 2:02:59 PM

Money isn't as important as Faith and Family, and any employer worth a damn would agree.




Do what you will, but be willing to make a potentially life-changing sacrifice for your decision.



I'm curious about his wicked/evilness. PM me.

12/21/2011 2:03:15 PM

^^ I feel like it was always around an hour and some change. Although I remember one year we went to mass in Massachusetts and that went on for almost two hours. I was so ready to sleep by the time it was done haha.

12/21/2011 2:15:53 PM

Quote :

"Money isn't as important as Faith and Family, and any employer worth a damn would agree."

No offense, buddy, but there might be a reason you're unemployed.

12/21/2011 2:21:47 PM

^^It seems like the two-hour services are normally what I remember. Of course, there was usually a lot of time that could have just been individual prayer time which would mean the actual service was much shorter. I was so happy when we went to the Lutheran church that didn't do all that mess. After a certain point, from a Christian perspective, you just hit that point where you go 'alright, it's enough'.

^I don't know... I agree with his sentiments, and I'm employed. I guess the difference is that I try to realize when I'm objecting to work out of my spiritual convictions and when I'm doing it just to be lazy.

12/21/2011 2:22:10 PM

hah. none taken Stein, but i assure you, my lack of employment has nothing to do with my prioritizing of God and Family over money.

but the fact that you're Jewish and disagree with my statement is hilarious on a Cartman-to-Kyle way. Way to be a stereotype.

Quote :

"I guess the difference is that I try to realize when I'm objecting to work out of my spiritual convictions and when I'm doing it just to be lazy."

Bingo.

12/21/2011 2:29:20 PM

Quote :

"but the fact that you're Jewish and disagree with my statement is hilarious on a Cartman-to-Kyle way. Way to be a stereotype. "

I will say I take Yom Kippur off every year. But that's, you know, an actual recognized religious holiday.

12/21/2011 2:35:30 PM

Scripture always bends to the needs of the clergy.

Doing it for getting out of work is way less immoral than justifying the crusades or fascist regimes of Europe.

12/21/2011 2:39:05 PM

^If that applied to anyone ITT, it would be a good point. Take that shit to TSB.

12/21/2011 2:41:15 PM