{"id":2159,"date":"2016-06-13T09:13:41","date_gmt":"2016-06-13T14:13:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/?p=2159"},"modified":"2021-01-29T14:56:48","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T19:56:48","slug":"theological-values-social-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/theological-values-social-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Theological Values of Social Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

The theological values of social work can be summarized by two of my husband\u2019s phrases, \u201cGod loves us no matter what\u201d and \u201cbe a hard worker.\u201d<\/p>\n

God Loves Us No Matter What<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Scripture tells us: \u201cFor I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord\u201d Rom 8:38-39.<\/p>\n

A social worker might say, \u201cFor I am convinced that neither hunger, nor thirst, nor mental illness, nor physical illness, nor abuse, nor homelessness, nor wealth, nor government, nor violence, nor poverty, nor injustice, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a nutshell social work is seeking justice for the \u201cleast of these.\u201d It is working for change in social institutions that are decaying and unhelpful. It is working for change for children and the elderly. It is working for change for the abused. It is advocating. It is being nimble. It is listening.<\/p>\n

The theological values of social work are actually quite simple\u2014God love us no matter what.<\/p>\n

Be a Hard Worker<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Social workers actively live out this belief that God loves us no matter what. Believing that all human beings need to know, and deserve to know, that they are a beloved child of God.<\/p>\n

What I most like about the term \u201csocial work\u201d is the word WORK. That is absolutely part of the theology. That God wants us to work. Changing social norms, society, government, or the life of just one child takes an enormous amount of work. It takes time, dedication, knowledge, and wherewithal to get the job done.<\/p>\n

Social workers are typically underpaid work horses. They are in the background of the story, receiving little to no glory for their hard work. But they do see results.<\/p>\n

They get to see children succeeding in school, they get to see behavior management techniques working, they get to see adults discharged home from the hospital with the skills and care they need, they get to listen to couples and see reconciliation, they get to be in the tender moments of life, and they work to get beneficial results for all involved.<\/p>\n

The Core Values<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The National Association of Social Workers<\/a>, of which I am a proud member, gives the following definition of the core values of social work:<\/p>\n

The mission of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values. These core values, embraced by social workers throughout the profession\u2019s history, are the foundation of social work\u2019s unique purpose and perspective:<\/p>\n