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Personal Ethical Creed

By

LaVonna Heard

Business Ethics 401

Professor Eric Strattan

February 19, 2010

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My name is LaVonna Marie Heard; I was born on December 14, 1974 to David and

Deborah Heard. I was born in Houston, MS.

Due to a series of events that had taken place in my life, from sexual, physical abuse

to being promiscuous, lying, cheating, and stealing, from suffering from mental illnesses of

depression, bipolar, alcohol, drugs, incarceration, becoming homeless and having a double-

mind; I had to turn to change. My disobedience and sin impacted so much that I had to turn

to Jesus. I had to learn what my purpose was, but in order to know that, I had to begin with

Jesus. So in 2004, I rededicated my life back to Christ.

My Christian Worldview

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone

who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NLT) Jesus died on the

cross for all of our sins, including mine. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, taking up the cross

and follow him, to lose our life, crucify our sinful nature and put on a Godly character.

(Matthew 16:23—27) With that being said, I believe in the word of God 100% for as

1Timothy 3:16 says “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true

and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.” Deuteronomy 12:32 says that “You must

not add anything to his commandments or take away from it.” I believe in the Godhead in

which that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). He is the creator of heaven and earth,

and of all living beings. He has revealed Himself to humanity as the Father (Creator), in the

son (Savior), and as the Holy Ghost (Indwelling Spirit). God is the spirit (John 4:24). He is

the eternal one, the Creator of all things, and the Father of all humanity by creation. He is the

First and the Last, and besides Him there is no God (Isaiah 44:6). There was no God formed

before Him; neither shall be there any after Him (Isaiah 43:10). Jesus is the Son of God
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according to the flesh (Romans 1:3) and the very God Himself according to the Spirit

(Matthew 1:23). Jesus is the Christ (Matthew 16:16); the creator of all things (Colossians

1:16-17); God with us (Matthew 1:23; God made flesh (John 1:1-14); God manifested in the

flesh (1Timothy 3:16); He was which is, and which is to come, the almighty (Revelation

1:8); the mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus Himself

testified of His identity as God when He said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father”

(John 14:7-11) and “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). It took shedding of the blood for

the remission of the sins of the world (Hebrew 9:22), but God the Father was a Spirit and had

no blood to shed. Thus He prepared a body of flesh and blood (Hebrews 10:5) and came to

earth as man in order to save us, for in Isaiah 43:11, He said, “Besides me there is no

Savior.” When He came in flesh the angels sang, “For unto you is born this day in the city of

David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The Holy Ghost is not a third person

in the Godhead, but rather the spirit of God (the creator), the Spirit of the resurrected Christ.

The Holy Ghost comes to dwell in the hearts and lives of everyone who believes and obeys

the gospel, as the comforter, Sustainer, and keeper (John 14:16-26; Romans 8:9-11).

Salvation consists of deliverance from all sin and unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus

Christ. Repentance from sin, water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the

remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, after which the Christian is to live a

Godly life (Acts 2:36-41). Romans 10:9-10 States that “If you confess with your mouth that

Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with

your mouth that you are saved.” Jesus says that “No-one can enter the Kingdom of God

without being born of the water and the spirit.” (John 3:5) Water baptism is an essential part
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of New Testament salvation and not merely a symbolic ritual. It is part of entering into the

Kingdom of God (God’s church the bride of Christ), and therefore, it is not merely a part of

local church membership. (John 3:5; Galatians 3:27). Water baptism is too administered

only by immersion. Acts 2:38 “Repent [death to sin], and be baptized [burial] every one of

you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the

Holy Ghost [resurrection].” Baptism representing the death, burial, and resurrection—of

Jesus and ourselves. (Romans 6) Baptism shows that we accept the shed blood of Christ for

our sins and pictures the death of our former life in the baptismal grave. The baptism of the

Holy Ghost is the birth of the Spirit (John 3:5). This spiritual is necessary to put someone

into the kingdom of God and is evidenced by speaking in tongues (other languages) as the

Spirit gives them utterance. It is prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-29) and Isaiah (Isaiah 28:11),

foretold by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11), purchased by the book of Jesus, and promised

by Him to His Disciples (John 14:26; 15:16). The Holy Ghost was first poured out on the

Day of Pentecost upon the Jews (Acts 2:1-4), then upon the Samaritans (Acts 9:17), and later

upon the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-46; 19:6). “The promise is unto you, and to your children, and

to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39). Jesus Christ

is coming back to earth in bodily form, just as He went away (Acts 1:11). He will catch

away a holy people (His bride, His church) who have accepted redemption through His

blood, by birth of water and of the Spirit, and who are found faithful when He comes.

Controlling Values

My central value is my relationship with God and knowing Him personally (Jeremiah

9:23, 24). I spend most of my time doing things to increase my spiritual growth with God.

Like doing daily devotions, reading the bible, praying in the spirit, fasting and consecration.
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I pray for our country, president, those in leadership, both ministry and government and

wherever the spirit leads. I pray for God to use me each day to further His Kingdom and be

pleasing to Him. I pray each day that I would not miss people that he put in my path and that

I would listen. We are to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2

Corinthians 10:5). I pray as much as I possibly can. Doing these things give me a deeper

understanding and revelation of the word of God and it also brings me closer to Jesus. This

too helps me to see and understand how God would use me. I value reading inspirational

books, and watching empowering Christian movies. I value going to church three times a

week, attending bible study, and small women group activities. I also volunteer my time to

the body of Christ assisting wherever needed throughout the community. I value doing things

that is pleasing to God. I also value assisting my brothers and sisters in Christ in getting the

help that they need.

Ethical Principles

Confessing the Ten Commandments on a daily basis helps me to remember how I

should be living my life. It helps me to remember how to treat my brother and sister in

Christ. I honor and care for all of God’s creatures in my life. That also means showing

others that I care by also accepting their significant others. I don’t treat people as if they are

dispensable and without value; instead I choose to “Do unto to others as I would have them

to do unto me” (Mark 7:12). I try to treat others the way that I want to be treated. I try to

speak the truth in love at all times, if I cannot, I humble myself. I try to study to the will of

life as God does. I mean the way of a life that pleases God. Knowing that I am created in

God’s image is a big responsibility. This also helps me to remember that others were created

in His image as well. So I must accept them as Christ does. I truly believe that each
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commandment should be followed in order to demonstrate all biblical and ethical principles.

As I strive to honor the 10 commandments on a daily basis, I feel that I am doing God’s will.

I am obeying Him.

In my commitments to others I must not only love them as my neighbor; but also

demonstrate integrity. I must be a person of integrity for “The man of integrity walks

securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9). I am whole. I

accept guidance in life. I do what I say and say what I do. I am truthful, honest, and reliable

without areas of deviousness or deception in my life. When people depend on me, I must be

all of these things, as my Father is looking down on me as I am.

When I make decisions, I always ask myself a series of questions such as; “What

would Jesus do; Does this go against biblical teaching, Does this violates another’s

principles, is this illegal and would I like this done to me or my family? If I can answer yes

to any of these questions, then I need not make that decision. All decision has to be pleasing

to God. Serving others helps me to not make any irrational decisions, and set my priorities

straight; which are putting God first in all that I do from sunrise to sundown. Every decision I

make now is made based on hearing from my Heavenly Father. If He doesn’t say go, then

I’d stay still and wait like an obedient child of God. My priorities used to be outrageous and

out of line but every-time I think of what Jesus did for me, I shift right back into the Godly

mindset. I am currently in a position of safety.