Question

Search the web for ethical standards in the Human Services field, then find at least 5 Scriptures describing how we should treat others and care for them. Compare and contrast the Human Service ethics standards with biblical standards. How are they alike? How are they different?

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. Also, the only references used throughout the response are the bible passages and the preamble of the HS field, as prescribed in the question.

(Answer) Ethical standards in the Human Services field:

The first few lines of the preamble of the ‘Ethical Standards for Human Service Professionals’ states, “Human services is a profession developed in response to the direction of human needs and human problems in the 1960's. Characterized by, an appreciation of human beings in all of their diversity, human services offers assistance to its clients within the context of their communities and environments. Human service professionals and those who educate them to promote and encourage the unique values and characteristics of human services. In so doing, human service professionals uphold the integrity and ethics of the profession, promote client and community well-being, and enhance their own professional growth.

The fundamental values of the human services profession include respecting the dignity and welfare of all people; promoting self-determination; honouring cultural diversity; advocating for social justice; and acting with integrity, honesty, genuineness and objectivity.”

HS values and corresponding Biblical scriptures:

Integrity: Proverbs 10:9

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

Proverbs 28:6

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

Honesty: 2 Corinthians 8:21

For we aim at what is honourable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man.

Genuineness: John 1:11

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Social Justice: Proverbs 21:15

When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

Honouring Cultural Diversity: Romans 14:1-23

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

A difference between the HS ethics and the Bible is in the 7^th standard of the HS preamble:

“STANDARD 7 Human service professionals ensure that their values or biases are not imposed upon their clients.”

This is contrary to the duty of spreading the gospel through benevolent actions and words. Other than this, there are no particular differences.