Persuasive Essay - Tithing
OBEYING GOD’S WILL
IS TITHEING A COMMANDMENT, CHORE OR IS IT A JOYFUL OFFERING OF PRAISE?
By
Melanie S. Hunley
LEAD 3200 Communication Concepts
2012 May 22
Thesis sentence: Is tithing a commandment, chore, or is it a joyful offering of praise?
Outline:
1. Introduction.
2. The reasons Christians do not tithe.
a. Fear of not having enough money.
b. Fear of giving money to the wrong place, to the wrong person, or for the wrong reasons.
c. Fear of being taken advantage of.
3. The reasons Christians should tithe. a. God says your tithe is already His. b. Tithing is God’s method of supporting His ministry. d. You will be blessed for tithing. e. Tithing is a continual reminder that God is our provider. f. Tithing is worship to the Lord.
4. Conclusion.
Introduction “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Act 20:35). It has been stated that less than 20% of most congregations tithe on a consistent basis. 20% of Christians are paying 80% of the Church’s expenses. (Patterson) The church needs to be taught the basic biblical understanding of tithing and how that same understanding applies to today. Why do we not tithe? Why should we tithe? Who benefits from our hard earned money? Is tithing a commandment, chore, or is it a joyful offering of praise?
The reasons Christians do not tithe.
“Most Christians would never refuse to do God’s will; it’s just that the timing is not right.” (Burkett, 5) I believe Christians do not tithe because of fear and worry. Fear of not having enough money; fear of giving money to the wrong places, to the wrong people, or for the wrong reasons; and fear of being taken advantage of. Here is what Jesus said about those fears and worry, “Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or
IS TITHEING A COMMANDMENT, CHORE OR IS IT A JOYFUL OFFERING OF PRAISE?
By
Melanie S. Hunley
LEAD 3200 Communication Concepts
2012 May 22
Thesis sentence: Is tithing a commandment, chore, or is it a joyful offering of praise?
Outline:
1. Introduction.
2. The reasons Christians do not tithe.
a. Fear of not having enough money.
b. Fear of giving money to the wrong place, to the wrong person, or for the wrong reasons.
c. Fear of being taken advantage of.
3. The reasons Christians should tithe. a. God says your tithe is already His. b. Tithing is God’s method of supporting His ministry. d. You will be blessed for tithing. e. Tithing is a continual reminder that God is our provider. f. Tithing is worship to the Lord.
4. Conclusion.
Introduction “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Act 20:35). It has been stated that less than 20% of most congregations tithe on a consistent basis. 20% of Christians are paying 80% of the Church’s expenses. (Patterson) The church needs to be taught the basic biblical understanding of tithing and how that same understanding applies to today. Why do we not tithe? Why should we tithe? Who benefits from our hard earned money? Is tithing a commandment, chore, or is it a joyful offering of praise?
The reasons Christians do not tithe.
“Most Christians would never refuse to do God’s will; it’s just that the timing is not right.” (Burkett, 5) I believe Christians do not tithe because of fear and worry. Fear of not having enough money; fear of giving money to the wrong places, to the wrong people, or for the wrong reasons; and fear of being taken advantage of. Here is what Jesus said about those fears and worry, “Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or
Bibliography: Burkett, Larry. 1991. Giving and Tithing; Includes Serving and Stewardship. New York: Christian Financial Concepts. Strong, James. The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 2001. NIV The Holy Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 2005. "Christian." Def. 2. Webster’s New Pocket Dictionary. Ohio: Whiley Publishing, Inc., 2000. Patterson, Rick L. Th.D. “The Law of Tithing.” Miami Christian University. 2012 May 21 from http://mcu.edu/papers/tithe.htm