Can you be a Social Worker and a Christian?

A while back when I was interviewing for my second year placement it was brought up that I was a Christian.  The woman interviewing me took the conversation "off the record" and asked me what I thought about working in the secular world while being a Christian.  I told her it was frustrating when I was at church and she couldn't agree with me more.  We talked about the awkward stares and downright judgemental comments that we receive when we speak about what we do to good christian folk.  The "how can you work with THOSE people" and "oh that must be HARD" and "THOSE PEOPLE just don't get it" kind of comments that constantly make my heart sink.  

On the other hand, in the few cases that clients have found out about it, they are usually happy and even go so far as say that this was the first time a Christian treated them decently.  Most of the time it's the "spiritual but not religious" folks that have been burned by well intentioned Christians for far too long.

We also both agreed in the end, that no matter what other Christians may think, we wouldn't be anywhere else, that we love our clients and that the key values and ethical standards that drive us as social workers are VERY christian indeed.

So for those of you that have not had a chance to check out the NASW Code of Ethics.

Here's a peak at some of my favorites and you tell me what you think . . . . . . call me crazy but I think the biggest hang up is on the whole non-judgemental theory and allowing the client to ultimately make their own choices in life.  Being there without being in control is really hard to do.