Hello, my boss is a Jehovah's Witness. I have nothing against her, and I am not here to prove anything. I'm just curious and I don't feel comfortable asking her about this.
We know she does not celebrate Christmas, but our company had a Christmas party last week and distributed Christmas gifts to each employee (they were specifically called "Christmas Gifts"). If that employee was not present at the party, he/she could pick up the gift later.
My boss made a point not to go to the party, and I applaud her for standing up for her beliefs. Yet, she was first in line to receive her Christmas gift from the company yesterday.
As a Jehovah's Witnesses, do you belive that this is acceptable? Again, I am not here to judge, just to inquire.
2007-12-19 08:07:41 · 28 answers · asked by nsupanda82 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sorry for all the bad spelling and bad grammar. LOL
2007-12-19 08:11:07 · update #1
The gift has nothing to do with a bonus. The annual bonus was given to us two weeks ago.
2007-12-19 08:13:08 · update #2
As a Jehovah's Witness myself, I would answer that I, personally, wouldn't have accepted a gift that I knew to be a 'Christmas' gift however that is just my personal view. I can see your viewpoint. We, as a matter of fact, just recently had a Watchtower study about something very similar. Your boss didn't necessarily break a commandment, per se, but she should be aware of how others, who know she is a witness, may view her accepting a gift. I am not judging either, I don't have that right and I am CERTAIN there are things I do that other Witnesses wonder about. I know that's probably NOT the answer you were looking for but it's all I have!! Just as the Bible says, "We are ALL sinners and fall short of the Glory of God" (I think that's how it's worded)
2007-12-19 08:18:20 · answer #1 · answered by d_eic 2 · 7⤊ 1⤋
ummm...this answer is REALLY loooong, sorry!
sometimes a person needs to make a personal choice about what they do and do not accept. i have looked up material concerning this particular question and i came up with some really well thought out answers. they are from our watchtowers and are questions that readers have asked. the first ones didne't really apply but is was about attending christmas luch. a christian wife and her non-christian husband were hosting a kunch for the faily but the wife did not know whether to stay. the admonition made was that it was her choice. but she has to think about how others would view her attending, would they presume she celebrated christmas or would they know before hand her reasons for attending. the bible tells us that just because someone else imagines certain food to have a special meaning, that does not rule out the Christian’s eating it as normal food.
1 Cor 8:8;But food will not commend us to God; if we do not eat, we do not fall short, and, if we eat, we have no credit to ourselves
but about the gift taking, the watchtower article also stated that it depends on how it was being received and given. i dont know how to explain it but i'll let the watchtower do the explaining;
Q. On my job all employees are given a Christmas bonus. Since I do not believe in Christmas, should I refuse the bonus?
A. That depends on what the bonus actually signifies and how accepting it would be viewed.
if the giver of a gift has a religious belief as a reason for its timing, that does not mean that the recipient is thought to share the religious view. Often a fellow worker or relative will tell one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, ‘I know that you do not celebrate Christmas (or, some other holiday), but I still want you to have this as a gift from me.’ If the Christian’s conscience would be at rest in accepting the gift, he might choose to take it and express thanks without any reference to the holiday. (Acts 23:1) A similar course has been followed by many a Christian when offered a gift by someone who does not know of his belief. Perhaps at another time, when there will be less likelihood of causing offense, the Christian can tactfully mention that he does not celebrate that religious holiday and can kindly, mildly explain that this is why he himself did not give any holiday gift.—1 Pet. 3:15.
But if a gift is given with the clear intent of showing that the Christian is not firm in his beliefs or will compromise for gain, then definitely it is best to decline. It is Jehovah God that Christians must worship. To him alone we render sacred service.—Matt. 4:8-10.
2007-12-20 08:55:39 · answer #2 · answered by dazy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thank You for your honest inquiry.
You will read numerous answers, some of which you will agree with, others not so much.
She did stand up for not participating in the Christmas party, but why did she accept the gift? It may be acceptable to her conscious in that she refused the ceremony, but accepted the gift.
"Good judgment is needed to discern how to handle each situation... What if someone wants to give you a gift? Much depends upon the circumstances. The giver might say: "I know that you do not celebrate the holiday. Still, I want you to have this." One may decided that accepting the gift under those circumstances is not the same as taking part in the holiday. Of course, if the giver is not familiar with your beliefs, you could mention that you do not observe the holiday...
On the other hand, it would not be wise to accept a gift if it is given with the clear intention of showing that you do not stick to your beliefs or that you would compromise for the sake of material gain...
Avoid any actions that would make you a participant in the holiday. Still, be reasonable when it comes to matters that do not amount to actual celebration. Of course, you should always act in a way that will leave you with a good conscience." - (1 Tim. 1:18-19)
We all have been endowed with a conscious, she may have been using it when she accepted the gift.
I know you "don't feel comfortable" asking her, but it might be the wisest thing to do. Only the individual could give you the answer you are looking for.
2007-12-19 10:20:46 · answer #3 · answered by Earl Grey 3 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Religion is a very touchy subject, especially when it deals with the work place. True Jehovah's witnesses do not believe in Christmas. It would be safe to say that if the person in question was a true believer then it was not appropriate for her to show especially to receive a gift. After all many people claim to be a part of something some more than others but the most important thing would be how it looked professionally ( WORK PLACE ETHICS ). As a supervisor I know not to let religion interfere with a job because that would be discriminating and it is not appropriate for a healthy work place.
2007-12-19 08:21:09 · answer #4 · answered by enrique m 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
A typical Jehovah's Witness would understand his brother or sister's decision to be his or her own, to make according to his or her conscientious and actual understanding of the "gift" (or perhaps "bonus"). It is well-known that Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate pagan holidays, but they also do not superstitiously reject something merely because it has been tagged by someone else with a holiday nickname. For example, fruitcake does not become unacceptable simply because it is sometimes called Christmas cake.
Of course, Jehovah's Witnesses work to please God and Christ, and understand that no seeming "loophole" could ever deceive the divine judges who can read the heart.
...(1 Samuel 16:7) Mere man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is.
...(Jeremiah 17:10) I, Jehovah, am searching the heart, examining the kidneys, even to give to each one according to his ways
...(Mark 2:8) Jesus, having discerned immediately by his spirit that they were reasoning that way in themselves, said to them: “Why are you reasoning these things in your hearts?
...(Genesis 18:25) Is the Judge of all the earth not going to do what is right?
A Jehovah's Witness may choose to accept a bonus or a gift if he sincerely believes that the giver intends it to be something other than an aspect of a pagan celebration. It would seem that a critic who pretends some special insight into the conscientious thoughts of another may benefit from professional counseling and the bible's practical advice.
...(Psalm 119:69,70,78) The presumptuous have smeared me with falsehood. As for me, with all my heart I shall observe [God's] orders. Their heart has become unfeeling... Let the presumptuous ones be ashamed
...(Proverbs 11:27) He that is looking for good will keep seeking goodwill; but as for the one searching for bad, it will come upon him.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/
2007-12-19 16:49:26 · answer #5 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
There is no hard a fast rule on the matter. It is up to individual conscience. It may be viewed as just a part of companies pay to employees. Others may view it as part of holiday observance and they would therefore refuse to partake.
One company I worked for paid poorly but gave gift certificates for Butterball turkeys with our paychecks. I usually gave mine away. I have never been to a Christmas party.
Either way is not for us to judge. It will be between each one and Jehovah examining their heart condition to judge.
2007-12-19 13:09:42 · answer #6 · answered by grnlow 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
it was a gift and has nothing to do with religion.....we can buy a present for anybody at any time for any reason....i would think just because we or rather they do not celebrate Christmas as in the religious sense does not mean they cannot party like everyone because after all ....most of us do not even remember why we are celebrating.....it´s rather like expecting a priest not to swear but being shocked when they do or being catholic and not having children out of wedlock but they ALL do .....being a Muslim that is not supposed to drink but does.......a Jehovah´s witness is not allowed to accept blood and am sure some would not but on the other hand another would not let their child die for such a silly reason
2007-12-19 08:24:01 · answer #7 · answered by foxy 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, I don't. I work w/ a JW and she neither comes to the Christmas party nor takes a gift later, if offered. She says its the principle. She doesn't take birthday gifts either. She goes so far as to get mad if we forget. I did that the first I knew her! I had never known anyone that didn't celebrate birthdays or any holidays. OOPS!!!!!!! No longer gets mad. But she will explain @ length if someone doesn't understand or asks. We are very respectful of her stance. She has never comprised to my knowledge in the 9 yrs I have known her.
2007-12-19 08:15:17 · answer #8 · answered by paula r 7 · 9⤊ 0⤋
She shouldn't have took the gift. As a Jehovah's Witness myself I wouldn't have because that's still celebrating the holiday. Also most Jehovah's Witnesses I know would never do that.
2014-01-04 17:26:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
hmmmm - i'm not sure how to answer this i am not a jehovahs witness but worked with one once and he didnt celebrate birthdays and woudnt accept or give gifts or cards so i wonder if this is just a choice to accept a gift and not celebrate at the party with workmates
2007-12-19 08:11:57 · answer #10 · answered by tkf57 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋