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Person Asks If They Were A Jerk To Refuse To Plan A BBQ Event For Their Church For Free
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Person Asks If They Were A Jerk To Refuse To Plan A BBQ Event For Their Church For Free

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If you work for yourself, you know there is a risk of running into that certain someone who will refuse to dish out for the job you have done. However, when it’s your own employer who isn’t even paying you the minimum wage – yikes.

This guy worked for a local church that he had a special connection to, and as mentioned earlier, the pay wasn’t all too great, yet he did it because the folks there were his only “family.” But, you know what they say, just because they’re family – it doesn’t mean they’re great people.

More info: Reddit

Pastor asked a church employee to organize and work at a BBQ event on his day off

Image credits: Josh Eckstein (not the actual image)

But when the guy pondered about pay, he got told that there would be none as he’d be doing it “for God”

Image credits: Luis Quintero (not the actual image)

Image credits: Allef Vinicius (not the actual image)

Image source: u/tway123123234234

AITA for laughing when my pastor/boss told me I wasn’t getting paid for organizing an event?” – this internet user took to one of Reddit’s most honorable communities to ask its members if he’s indeed a jerk for laughing at his employer and then quitting on the spot after he refused to pay for a job. The post managed to garner over 6.3K upvotes as well as 686 comments discussing the situation.

The fact that our world is totally money-oriented and that we have no choice but to submit to it is not particularly shocking. Perhaps evolution is to blame for our all-time desire for status, or some bigwig in 600 BCE who is believed to have minted the first official currency – whatever it is, one thing we know for sure is that we pay to exist, and it’s not fun. 

Having a stable job is vital if you want to survive, and if you’re lucky enough to get a position in an appealing environment with a boss who treats you like a human, you might even get something out of it, like occasional fulfillment, for instance.  

Now, all jokes aside, not everything is that depressing. Although our world is filled with greedy individuals who want power and power only, finding a position that ticks all your boxes is possible, so – kudos to all the employers who take their subordinates’ labor seriously. 

However, evil still exists, and people do take advantage of others for their own sake. 

There are a bazillion issues that could come up with employment: lack of recognition, poor work-life balance, no potential growth, an office staffed with gossiping high schoolers, pay discrepancies, and the most popular one, crappy management.

To really paint a picture, according to a piece from Officevibe, an online platform that offers managers an employee experience solution to build better relationships with their people and create the conditions for great work, a Gallup study of 7,272 Americans revealed that one in two had left their job to get away from their manager.

Crazy, but not that surprising, eh? 

He then laughed in his face, and when he realized that the pastor was being serious – quit on the spot

Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual image)

Well, the star of today’s article is no exception and has also found himself in a bind with his superior.

Everybody knows that failing to pay an employee for completed work is, inarguably, criminal – however, when you turn down an internship just to work at a place that is barely bringing you enough to stay afloat simply because you consider them your only “family,” it pains significantly more.

Let’s do a quick recap: the 23-year-old started working for his church with “garbage” pay because the people there had helped him through some tough times. He did some general work, but his main focus revolved around finance budgeting, so when the pastor asked him to organize a BBQ event on his day off, naturally, he wondered about the pay.

But, instead of getting a number, the pastor straight up told him that there’d be none as he’d be doing it “for God” and that he shouldn’t expect to be paid on a Sunday.

Great, blame it on the deity!

Anywho, long story short, the guy laughed in his face and quit on the spot but later received a “second-chance” text, which essentially provoked him to take it online and establish whether he should just suck it up.

Many Redditors said that while the church did help the author when he needed it, the fact that they were openly trying to mooch off of his time and resources was downright unacceptable.

At the end of the day, these spiritual people did help a struggling soul, but, as it’s universally known, when you do good deeds, it doesn’t mean that you now get to exploit others for it.

What is your take on the story, though?

Fellow online community members shared their thoughts and opinions on the matter

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Darja Zinina

Darja Zinina

Writer, Community member

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Darja is a Content Creator at Bored Panda. She studied at the University of Westminster, where she got her Bachelor's degree in Contemporary Media Practice. She loves photography, foreign music and re-watching Forrest Gump.

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Darja Zinina

Darja Zinina

Writer, Community member

Darja is a Content Creator at Bored Panda. She studied at the University of Westminster, where she got her Bachelor's degree in Contemporary Media Practice. She loves photography, foreign music and re-watching Forrest Gump.

Monika Pašukonytė

Monika Pašukonytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

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I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

Read less »

Monika Pašukonytė

Monika Pašukonytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

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Uncle Pato
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

IMO, it's ok to request volunteers from the congregation for various things- I would volunteer to do outdoor clean-up, cook for a pancake breakfast, and sometimes lay read when I was a member. Employees of the church are different, they generally got paid for most if not all work done for the church. Volunteer work should be done by the members, not the staff.

Wysteria_Rose
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My church relies heavily on volunteers, but I guarantee that any of the staff members who work for a wage are never asked to do more because they already do a lot. The volunteer roles always are up for members to assist with, which, luckily, we have quite a few who do (a lot of retirees with a lot of time on their hands). It's so sad that they're going to shoot themselves in the foot by losing this guy who was willing to help them out as a thank you but now will realize he's better off elsewhere. All over a BBQ for crying out loud.

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Jack S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

F**k the church. F**k Christianity. F**k all religion. It's nothing but a several thousand year old scam.

Humansarethevirus
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly so many brainwash evil hypocrites that have so much power and steal from the poor literally

Load More Replies...
The Other Other White Meat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked at a bank, where a pastor of a small church was paid $3,400/week. He deposited these checks, written to him, into his personal account every week. I heard his (tax free) housing was free, provided by the church. Wasn't a very nice guy outside of his church group. My biological father is apparently a pastor... I don't know him, because he ran out on me and my mom when I was 2 🙃 but has at least 9 other children, 5 of them being with his current wife. The pastor of the youth group I attended as a child, gave up their own daughter to a group home at age 16 simply because she refused to join their church. So yeah... my opinions about organized religion are best kept to myself. Please don't downvote, I'm not bashing - you do you.

Bubbles and sparks
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If possible, I would upvote a hundred times... These are not things that seldomly occur, but mostly covered up... I hope you are doing well now and are happy with the life you live now as I hope that poor girl that was casted out of her family because she wanted to live her life the way she wanted it...

Load More Replies...
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Uncle Pato
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

IMO, it's ok to request volunteers from the congregation for various things- I would volunteer to do outdoor clean-up, cook for a pancake breakfast, and sometimes lay read when I was a member. Employees of the church are different, they generally got paid for most if not all work done for the church. Volunteer work should be done by the members, not the staff.

Wysteria_Rose
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My church relies heavily on volunteers, but I guarantee that any of the staff members who work for a wage are never asked to do more because they already do a lot. The volunteer roles always are up for members to assist with, which, luckily, we have quite a few who do (a lot of retirees with a lot of time on their hands). It's so sad that they're going to shoot themselves in the foot by losing this guy who was willing to help them out as a thank you but now will realize he's better off elsewhere. All over a BBQ for crying out loud.

Load More Replies...
Jack S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

F**k the church. F**k Christianity. F**k all religion. It's nothing but a several thousand year old scam.

Humansarethevirus
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly so many brainwash evil hypocrites that have so much power and steal from the poor literally

Load More Replies...
The Other Other White Meat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked at a bank, where a pastor of a small church was paid $3,400/week. He deposited these checks, written to him, into his personal account every week. I heard his (tax free) housing was free, provided by the church. Wasn't a very nice guy outside of his church group. My biological father is apparently a pastor... I don't know him, because he ran out on me and my mom when I was 2 🙃 but has at least 9 other children, 5 of them being with his current wife. The pastor of the youth group I attended as a child, gave up their own daughter to a group home at age 16 simply because she refused to join their church. So yeah... my opinions about organized religion are best kept to myself. Please don't downvote, I'm not bashing - you do you.

Bubbles and sparks
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If possible, I would upvote a hundred times... These are not things that seldomly occur, but mostly covered up... I hope you are doing well now and are happy with the life you live now as I hope that poor girl that was casted out of her family because she wanted to live her life the way she wanted it...

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
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