| Course | BUSI 223 Personal Finance (BUSI223) |
|---|---|
| Module/Week | 5 |
| Assignment | Discussion Board Forum 3 |
| Paper type | Discussion thread and reply |
| Length | about 335 words (thread and replies). Course guide: one thread of at least 150 words and one reply of at least 100 words, with assertions supported by at least 1 Bible citation in current APA format |
| Format | APA 7 citations and reference list |
| Points | 40 |
| School | Liberty University Online |
| Program | BS in Business Administration |
| Where it sits | Module/Week 5 in Liberty's published BUSI 223 course guide; current sections can differ |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for BUSI 223 Week 5
Discussion Board Forum 3: Is It Right for a Christian to Minimize Taxes?
BUSI 223 Personal Finance, Discussion Board Forum 3 (Thread and Reply)
Thread by [Student Name]
The prompt and the classmate's thread are composites; the textbook, IRS publication and Scripture cited are real.
Thread
A Christian may legally reduce the taxes owed, as long as every figure on the return is honest. The key is the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion. Billingsley et al. (2017) describe tax planning as arranging one's affairs to take advantage of deductions, credits and tax-favored accounts the law provides, which is legal; evasion means hiding income or inventing deductions, which is a crime. The IRS itself explains credits such as the earned income tax credit and encourages eligible taxpayers to claim them (Internal Revenue Service, 2024).
Scripture is clear that taxes must be paid. When asked about the Roman tax, Jesus answered that people should render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Matthew 22:21). Paul instructs the church in Rome to give the authorities the revenue they are due (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Romans 13:7). What is owed is defined by the law itself, including the deductions the law offers. A taxpayer who contributes to a retirement account or claims a credit is paying exactly what Caesar asks, no less.
Reply to Isaac
Isaac, you wrote that you feel uneasy claiming every deduction, because it seems like trying to get away with something. I respect that conscience, and you are right that motives matter; Jesus warned that we cannot serve God and money (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Matthew 6:24).
Still, I think the unease belongs to dishonesty, not to legal deductions. Congress created credits and deductions on purpose, often to encourage things like saving for retirement or supporting children. Proverbs says that honest scales and balances belong to the Lord (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Proverbs 16:11), so the test is whether the numbers are true, not whether the total is as large as possible. Billingsley et al. (2017) suggest keeping good records precisely so that every claim can be supported.
Would it ease your concern to give part of any tax savings to your church or a ministry?
References
Billingsley, R., Gitman, L. J., & Joehnk, M. D. (2017). Personal financial planning (14th ed.). Cengage Learning.
English Standard Version Bible. (2016). Crossway. (Original work published 2001)
Internal Revenue Service. (2024). Earned income credit (EIC) (Publication 596).
What the BUSI 223 Week 5 instructions ask
In Module/Week 5, BUSI 223 students read the sections of Billingsley et al. on preparing taxes, with a presentation and a website, complete Exercise 5 and Quiz 5, and take part in Discussion Board Forum 3. For 40 points, students write a 150-word minimum thread and a 100-word minimum reply, each anchored in at least one cited passage. Taxes are a topic where moral intuitions differ, so the forum asks students to think through what Scripture actually requires of citizens and how that applies to ordinary choices on a tax return. The tax sections explain filing status, deductions and credits, which give the forum its vocabulary.
How this BUSI 223 Week 5 example is built
The thread opens with its position and then defines terms, because the argument depends on the difference between avoiding and evading taxes. The textbook and an IRS publication supply that distinction and an example of a legal credit. Jesus's answer about paying Caesar and Paul's instruction in Romans 13 establish the duty to pay. A final paragraph explains why claiming what the law allows fits that duty and how honesty applies to every line of a return. The reply responds to a classmate's unease, agreeing that motives matter and adding a verse about honesty, then asks a question about giving the tax savings away.
BUSI 223 Week 5 grading rubric: where the points go
A strong grade here rests on a thoughtful Christian answer about taxes, posts that clear their minimums, and verses cited for each claim. Tax vocabulary has to be right: deductions are not credits, and avoiding tax is not evading it. Posts that cite verses without explaining their context, or that make inaccurate claims about tax law, lose points. A reply should respond to the classmate's specific concern. A clear position, a fair reading of the passages and correct financial terms make for a strong post. Instructors appreciate posts that keep a gracious tone on a subject where opinions can run hot. Kindness toward a classmate who disagrees is part of a good reply.
BUSI 223 Week 5 help: mistakes that cost points
Define your key terms before you argue, especially avoidance and evasion, since many disagreements about taxes come from mixing them up. Use the textbook for the financial concepts and an official source, such as the IRS, for any rule you mention. Read the Bible passages on taxes in their context and say what each one requires. In your reply, take the classmate's concern seriously and find a point of agreement before adding your view. Cite every passage in APA style. Give classmates time to respond by posting your thread in the first days of the module/week. Specific examples, such as a retirement contribution, make the argument easier to follow. Mention a real credit or deduction from the chapter to show how the principle works.
Related BUSI 223 sample papers
Other BUSI 223 weeks
- BUSI 223 Week 1: Discussion Board Forum 1
- BUSI 223 Week 2: Biblical Response 1
- BUSI 223 Week 3: Discussion Board Forum 2
- BUSI 223 Week 4: Biblical Response 2
- BUSI 223 Week 6: Biblical Response 3
- BUSI 223 Week 7: Discussion Board Forum 4
- BUSI 223 Week 8: Biblical Response 4
More BS in Business Administration sample papers
- BUSI 101 Week 5: Forum 3 Thread
- BUSI 240 Week 5: Forum 3 Thread
- BUSI 300 Week 5: Forum 3 Thread
- BUSI 301 Week 5: Book Review
BUSI 223 Week 5 questions, answered
What is BUSI 223 Discussion Board Forum 3?
The 40-point forum in Module/Week 5 on a Christian approach to taxes: a thread of at least 150 words and a reply of at least 100, each supported by Bible citations in APA format.
Where can I find a free BUSI 223 Week 5 sample paper?
The BUSI 223 Week 5 sample here is a full forum thread and reply on whether Christians may legally reduce the taxes they owe.
What is the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion?
Tax avoidance uses legal means, such as deductions and credits, to reduce taxes owed; tax evasion illegally hides income or falsifies records to escape taxes actually due.
What does the Bible say about paying taxes?
Jesus told His questioners to render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and Paul instructed believers to pay taxes and revenue to whom they are owed.
What else is due in BUSI 223 Module/Week 5?
The tax exercise and fifth quiz fall due too, and students read Billingsley et al. sections 3.1 through 3.5 on taxes, a presentation and a website.
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