ICCC Indonesia Newsletter June 2010

BERITA ICCC INDONESIA 2010 Edisi JUNI Untuk kalangan sendiri

BERITA INTERN UNTUK ANGGOTA DAN KOMUNIKASI BAGI KALANGAN DUNIA BISNIS DAN PROFESI KRISTEN

ICCC ADALAH MIMBAR DIMANA PESAN KRISTUS BAGI KITA DI ZAMAN INI DIJABARKAN, DIBAGIKAN DAN DINYATAKAN TERHADAP DUNIA BISNIS

NATIONAL BOARD Spiritual Counselor Pdm. Bunan Djambek National President Benjamin B. Juwono Vice Presidents:  Admin/Secretary Tonny Soetjoadi 

Finance/Treasurer: ManimbulL. Sitorus

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Membership/Mentoring/ Network Simon Aditan

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Teaching / Training Eliezer H. Hardjo Johanis S. Najoan Ridwan Naftali

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Business Development/ Micro-Enterprise Kristanta Dewara Rudolf A.S. Sinaga Johny Rempas Michael Albinus Agus Susanto Markus Christianto

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Intercessors Eddy S. Kristiawan Mohan U. Vasandani (Mrs.) Suzanna Suadi (Mrs.) Josephine S. Sitorus (Ms.) Hermina M. Usmany Paul Tapilatu

Kantor National ICCC Indonesia:

Website: www.iccc-indonesia.com Pertokoan Pulo Mas Blok B I / 8, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan. Jakarta 13260 Telp (021) 4890211, fax: (021) 4722274. Email: js.najoan@gmail.com arfia@cbn.net.id, ehardjo@gmail.com

Saudara-saudara dalam Tuhan Yesus Kristus Salam hangat dan senang berjumpa kembali dengan saudara-saudara sekalian dalam pelayanan ICCC. Saya mengucapkan selamat bergabung dengan rekan-rekan anggota baru ,saya percaya bahwa kehadiran saudara akan memberikan kontribusi yang sangat berarti bagi pelayanan ICCC. Kita patut bersyukur bahwa kita dapat terus melakukan pelayanan inti kita yaitu serving the nation melalui berbagai bentuk.Pelajaran TWL terus diberitakan diberbagai forum.

Dalam Kolose 1 :28 Dialah yang kami beritakan,apabila tiap-tiap orang kami nasihati dan tiap-tiap orang kami ajari dalam segala hikmat,untuk memimpin tiap-tiap orang kepada kesempurnaan di dalam Kristus.

Kita dipanggil untuk memberitakan hikmat Tuhan kepada tiap-tiap orang di dunia kerja,agar tiap-tiap orang sempurna di dalam Kristus.Saya menggaris bawahi kata sempurna ,yaitu bahwa kita tidak cukup menjadi baik saja ,tetapi standard kehidupan orang percaya adalah sempurna di dalam Kristus.Alangkah mulianya panggilan bagi kita pengikut-pengikut Kristus.Kalau kita membandingkan dengan realita yang ada di dunia kita, alangkah lebarnya jarak/perbedaan dengan panggilan kita.Dunia yang kita hidupi adalah dunia yang telah cacat/defected world.

Untuk itulah panggilan dan fungsi kita yaitu filling the gap ,membawa hikmat Tuhan kepada tiap-tiap orang agar sampai kepada kesempurnaan di dalam Kristus.

Di bulan Mei kita baru saja memperingati hari Kebangkitan Nasional.

Marilah kita mengingat kembali kepada sebuah komitment untuk berbuat sesuatu yang lebih baik lagi bagi bangsa ini. Di mulai dari diri kita sendiri dan lingkungan kita. Kita melakukannya dengan mata yang tertuju kepada Tuhan.

Kita juga perlu terus mendoakan situasi negara kita, khususnya sektor perekonomian. Seperti kita tahu bahwa kita baru saja memiliki seorang Menteri Keuangan yang baru. Semoga pergantian posisi yang penting ini membawa negeri kita kepada situasi yang lebih baik lagi. Kejadian-kejadian yang negatif di masa lalu,hendaknya kita tinggalkan,untuk bergerak ke arah yang lebih baik.

Seperti kita pahami bahwa perekonomian adalah ibarat aliran darah dalam tubuh kita. Perekonomian yang sehat akan membawa pertumbuhan bangsa yang sehat pula.Selesainya pergolakan di jantung kota Bangkok juga patut kita syukuri, jikalau tidak tentu akan membawa dampak buruk bagi negara tsb. Marilah kita yang dipanggil untuk membawa ”terang” di dunia marketplace melakukannya dengan tekun. Kita semua berdoa agar domaindomain pelayanan kita bergerak untuk membawa perubahan bagi negeri kita ini. Amin.

Tuhan Yesus memberkati.

Benjamin Bambang Juwono National President ICCC INDONESIA www.iccc-indonesia.com

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INTERNATIONAL International General Conference (IGC) tahun ini bertepatan dengan hari jadi ICCC yang ke-25 dan IGM (International General Meeting) akan diadakan di Alicante, Spanyol.

Beberapa rekan NB telah confirm untuk mewakili Indonesia dalam kesempatan tersebut.

IGC terbuka selain untuk NB, member, juga umum yang menaruh minat menyaksikan dan berpartisipasi dalam IGC tersebut

Agus Susanto menerima penyematan Pin ICCC dari Bejamin B. Juwono, National President ICCC Indonesia didampingi oleh Simon Aditan, V.P. Membership yang memperlihatkan Lettter of Confirmation International Membership

Informasi lebih lanjut dan detail akan kami muat dalam edisi Juli 2010 Bagi anda yang berminat silahkan mendaftar melalui email ke simonaditan@yahoo.com atau bbjuwono@cbn.net.id

FORUM ANGGOTA 

Markus Christianto menerima penyematan Pin ICCC dari Bejamin B. Juwono, National President ICCC Indonesia didampingi oleh Simon Aditan, V.P. Membership yang memperlihatkan Lettter of Confirmation International Membership

Welcome New Member 1.

2.

3.

4.

Mr. Agus Susanto Ms. Hermina Magdalena Usmany Mr. Paulus Tapilatu

Mr. Markus Christianto

Dalam kesempatan National Board Meeting pada tanggal 25 Mei 2010 yang lalu diadakan upacara penyematan pin ICCC dan Lettter of Confirmation (& Member’s Card) kepada 3 New Members oleh National President: 1. Agus Susanto, 2. Markus Christianto dan Hermina Magdalaena Usmany.

Ms. Hermina Usmany menerima penyematan Pin ICCC dari Bejamin B. Juwono, National President ICCC Indonesia didampingi oleh Simon Aditan, V.P. Membership yang memperlihatkan Lettter of Confirmation International Membership

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KONTAK BISNIS 1. Surya Delapan Mas Tonny Soetjoadi – Director Offices: 1. HWI Lindeteves 4th Floor, Block B No. 7 Jalan Hayam Wuruk Jakarta (Barat) 11180 – INDONESIA Phone: 062 (21) 6259625 Fax: 062 (21) 6259561

Berpose bersama National Board (ki ke ka): Tonny Soetjoadi, Benjamin B. Juwono, Agus Susanto, Hermina Usmany, Markus Christianto, Simon Aditan, Manimbul L. Sitorus



MEMBERSHIP FEE

2. Taman Berdikari Santosa Block M No. 16 Jalan Pemuda Jakarta (Timur) 13220 – INDONESIA Phone: 062 (21) 4712821 & 91282388 Fax: 062 (21) 4718293 Line of Business: Distribution of Chladianpast Corrugated Roof & Flat sheet for Jakarta Metro & Outer Java and International market

Bagi anda yang akan memperpanjang kartu keanggotaan anda untuk tahun 2010 agar segera menghubungi Simon Aditan V.P. Membership melalui HP: 0816974647 atau email (simonaditan@yahoo.com)

Annual Membership Fee untuk tahun 2010 mengikuti peraturan International dalam kategori Developing Nation menjadi Rp. 600.000 dimana US$ 50 dikirim ke Kantor Pusat di Swedia sebagai syarat dan kewajiban International Membership Membership Fee dapat ditransfer ke rekening ICCC Indonesia atau FORUKIN dibawah ini, dan mengirimkan bukti transfernya dengan fax ke alamat yang tercantum paling bawah dari setiap halaman Newsletter ini: Rekening Bank: LIPPO BANK Cabang Senen - Jakarta No. 716-30-00309-2 a/n : Forum Komunikasi Usahawan Kristen Indonesia (FORUKIN).

Business Opportunity: Looking for bona-fide Sub-distributors all-over Indonesia as well as outside of Indonesia, preferably having vast networks & experiences in distribution of building materials.

Serious inquiry can be directed to Tonny Soetjoadi, Director (tonnystd@indo.net.id or mobile: +62811193202 2. HeavenSpring Consulting & Agencies Co. Eliezer Hernawan Hardjo CM Jalan Pegangsaan Indah Barat B I / 8 Pondok Gading Utama Jakarta 14250 – INDONESIA Phone: 062 (21) 4521141 Fax: 062 (21) 4533070 Mobile: (062) 815-13203415 E-mail: heavenspring.consulting@gmail.com, eliezer@heavenspring.com, ehardjo@gmail.com

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Partners: 1. Institute of Certified Professional Managers – James Madison University, VA, USA 2. Corporate Turnaround Center Pte. Ltd., Singapore Line of Business: Business & Management Consulting (Seminar, Training & Consulting) Bagi member yang berminat untuk dicantumkan dalam kolom ini (free of charge) dimohon untuk meng-update data dan mengirim ke e-mail: ehardjo@gmail.com seperti contoh diatas  Nama Perusahaan  Person in Charge dan Contact person  Alamat lengkap termasuk no. telepon/fax dan email  Line of business  Specific products yang ingin ditawarkan (dengan foto kalau ada – yang di-compressed)

TESTIMONY & WISDOM

Should a Christian Set Goals?

By: Daniel B. Wallace , Th.M., Ph.D.

Years ago I had a friend who made no plans, set no goals, aimed at nothing. His reason? He wanted always to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Before he decided anything, he prayed. He asked the Lord whether he should go to work that day, brush his teeth, use deodorant. (I wish he had asked me!) Needless to say, he didn't keep a job very long.

My friend made three faulty assumptions in determining God's will: (1) He thought that his feelings were an infallible guide for sensing the leading of the Spirit. But even Jesus did not take this attitude, for when he prayed in the garden, "If it is possible, let this cup pass from me" (Matt 26:39), he was clearly indicating (among other things) that emotionally he would prefer not to face the cross.

(2) My friend believed that the Holy Spirit leads people only in a spontaneous way. That is, he does not move them to make plans. But Paul made plans (see, for example, Acts 15:36; Rom 1:13), the apostles made plans (Acts 6:1-3), and even Jesus himself made plans (Matt 10:5-15; 16:21; 26:17-19). Surely we cannot claim that these men were not Spirit-led in their planning.

(3) My friend subconsciously rejected the idea that he could hear the Spirit's voice through the Scriptures. But by abandoning the Word of God as his normative guide, he was assuming that the Holy Spirit usually circumvents the Word when he speaks to men. This is hardly the view of the Spirit-led men of the past (see, for example, Ps 119:9-16; Matt 4:4; 5:17; 2 Tim 3:1517).

On the other hand, some Christian businessmen are so rigid in their schedules that any little 'crisis' ruins their day. Sometimes they stick to their plans even when the only reason for doing so is to save face. But the apostle Paul did not share this rigidity. On more than one occasion in his missionary travels, Paul planned to invade a region with the gospel but the Spirit of God prevented him (Acts 16:6-7). Herein is balance: although Paul planned, he was sensitive to the Lord altering his plans.

Such people approach goal-setting from opposite ends of the spectrum: the first fellow, though humble, does not really use his God-given intellect to make decisions.

He does not love God with his mind (Matt 22:37). The second fellow, however, though using his mind, neglects his heart. In his rigid long-range planning, he assumes omniscience. But he does not really know everything. Even when his plans go awry, he arrogantly clings to his objectives. Often his anxiety about the future underlies his desire to control all aspects of his life (but see Matt 6:34).

Two passages especially address these extremes. In Proverbs 6, the author rebukes the man who prepares for nothing, calling him a "sluggard." He implores the sluggard to observe the ant which "prepares her food in the summer, and gathers her provision in the harvest" (v. 8). According to the Scriptures, the wise person in business will establish objectives and prepare for the future.

But that is not all. The wise businessman will recognize his finiteness and subject his plans to the Lord. In James 4, the author specifically addresses the one who sets his goals in concrete: "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away" (vv. 13-14).

James calls such rigidity arrogance ( v. 16). But he does not say that we should not set goals. Rather, we should make plans, but submit them to the Lord: "Instead, you ought to to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that'" (v. 15). In reality, James 4:15 balances out both extremes. We should use our minds and set goals, but we must do so in humility, recognizing that God alone controls our destiny.

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How Can We Apply These Truths?

Three specific areas come to mind: (1) With reference to business, our "yea" ought to be "yea" and our "nay" ought to be "nay," yet we need to learn to make contingent promises. That is, concerning a matter outside of our control, we may need to add certain qualifications to those kinds of projections.

Although a client may not like this approach, he would like much less an absolute promise that was later broken due to "unforeseen circumstances." And in these cases, if we are able to improve on such a projected (not promised) deadline, we might gain additional respect and some repeat business by our honesty.

(2) With reference to our family, we also need to learn to make contingent promises. However, if we are not running on a "do or die" schedule at the office, then our work will not be one of the contingencies. If I tell my son that I will take him fishing next Saturday, I'd better add, "If the car works and it's not snowing." But if I repeatedly add, "if I am caught up at work," then my son will soon come to believe that he is not as important to me as my job. You see, contingent promises in business and family work together!

(3) Finally, with reference to one's financial stewardship, again contingent promises need to be made. Very few people have both the means and the knowledge of the future to say honestly, "I pledge X amount of dollars to this missionary for the next year." It is far wiser to say, "If the Lord enables me, I will give so much." Though missionaries, churches, seminaries, etc., might feel uncomfortable with such a "pledge," they ought not. For in reality all of us are daily dependent upon the Lord for the provisions of life (Matt 6:11).

In stating these three applications, I fear that some will see in them an excuse for not meeting obligations. But the businessman who repeatedly fails to meet even his projected deadlines will soon be out of work; the father who repeatedly fails to spend time with his children will be the catalyst for rebellion in his own home; and the steward who neglects the work of the Lord will not be a cheerful giver in whom the Lord delights.

Setting goals is serious business. We ought not to be so anxious about life that we make rigid plans which are beyond our capacity to keep, nor should we be so lazy as to make no plans at all. Rather, with all humility, let us submit our plans to the Lord, and work for his glory.

Dishonesty and Deception in Business Alexander Hill The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing: if you can fake that, you’ve got it made. GROUCHO MARX I would not tell a willful lie to save the souls of the whole world. JOHN WESLEY No one trivial lie undermines the liar’s integrity.

But the problem for liars is that they tend to see most of their lies in this benevolent light and thus vastly underestimate the risks they run. SISSELA BOK Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

PROVERBS 20:17 MEDICINE FOR WHAT AILS YOU. One of the earliest national advertising campaigns commenced in 1875 and ran for nearly half a century. “Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound” was promoted as the “positive cure for all female complaints” (understood to include everything from menstrual cramps to a prolapsed uterus).

Both the bottle and the print advertisement had a photograph of Mrs. Pinkham, the perfect image of a gray-haired grandmother. Testimonials were given by women about the product’s curative powers.

There were three things, however, about which the public was unaware. First, the product had an 18 percent alcohol content. Second, Lydia Pinkham had died years before. And third, the company spent 75 percent of its revenues on advertising (note 1).

Consumers doubt claims made by advertisers, government officials investigate statements made by corporate officials, and labor negotiators question whether they should ever be anything but skeptical about claims made by their management counterparts. Even business professors have reason to wonder whether they should trust their students. Studies indicate that business majors are more likely to cheat on exams or plagiarize term papers than other college students (note 2). As an accounting student at the University of Dayton rationalized, “When you get to college, you don’t follow the same rules [on honesty] your parents laid down” (note 3). The temptation to accelerate such “moral adjustments’ only increases after graduation: sales quotas must be met, hoped-for promotions obtained, and shipment deadlines met.

Unfortunately, honesty is often the first casualty in such pressure-cooker situations.

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Honesty, deception and disclosure are concepts that are often difficult to apply with precision in the business environment. For instance, were the Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound ads deceitful or merely coy? What duty, if any, did the company have to disclose full information to the consuming public? Was its only ethical obligation negative in nature – not to communicate misinformation – or did it have affirmative duties to reveal relevant information as well? These questions underscore the point that rule-book ethics – a list of simple “dos and don’ts” to be applied to every situation – is woefully inadequate. Truth telling, dishonesty and concealment are complex subjects that require more sophisticated analysis.

Honesty CHRISTIAN CON MAN. In six years John Bennett built his Philadelphia-based New Era Philanthropy Foundation into a powerhouse charity. Claiming to be a broker for several anonymous donors, Bennett first gave away modest sums of money to several nonprofit organizations. Later he asked these same organizations to “invest” so that his foundation could double their income within six months. For a few years the plan worked. However, when the Securities and Exchange Commission began to investigate, Bennett’s house of cards collapsed.

After New Era declared bankruptcy, Bennett admitted to the SEC that the anonymous donors never existed. “Investors” then were owed over $550 million, but New Era had assets of only $80 million. It was alleged that Mr. Bennett had secretively taken over $4 million for personal use.

Included among those who were tricked: Young Life, the University of Pennsylvania, World Vision, Wheaton College and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. “I had every reason to trust him,” said the president of the Seminary of the East. “He had a reputation for Christian values and commitment to Christ.” (note 4).

Ethicist Lewis Smedes contends that honesty is crucial for three reasons: it builds trust, establishes community and protects the dignity of the audience (note 5).

Trust. Without honest communication, trust is impossible: all cooperative ventures require some measure of trust. Indeed, well-placed trust translates into profit. Accountants can even quantify the value of honesty on a company’s balance sheet as part of its “goodwill”(note 6).

Partners rely on each other to fulfill promises, supervisors expect subordinates to fulfill their tasks, and buyers depend on suppliers to ship quality goods in a timely manner.

Studies indicate that workers who believe that their employers are truthful work harder. When trust is breached, however, employee productivity slackens (note 7). Norman Bowie contrasts Chrysler employees, whose quality of work suffered as a result of their distrust of management at the bargaining table a number of years ago, with General Motors’s Saturn employees, whose high level of trust in the corporation has translated into superior quality and productivity (note 8). Another observer compares trust to a bank account. “Reputational capital,” built up through many instances of truth telling, can be overdrawn by a single act of deception (note 9). This is as true in business as it is in marriage. And since few lies exist in isolation, the first untruth “must be thatched with another or it will rain through” (note 10).

Community. The second value of honesty is that it fosters community. When individuals trust each other, relational networks are built. As trust is more highly prized, greater expectations for honesty are placed on an expanding web of individuals – managers, marketers and accountants. This produces communities of trust. As Sissela Bok wisely observes, “The veneer of social trust is often thin…Trust is a social good to be protected just as much as the air we breathe or the water we drink. When it is damaged, the community as a whole suffers; and when it is destroyed, societies falter and collapse” (note 11).

PLAY THE GAME. Rita is a new manager with Crane Construction Company. One of her first tasks is to formulate the annual budget for her division. Over lunch, a peer advises her to “be sure to inflate your estimated expenses by 15 percent and to ask for a few positions you don’t really need.

Upper management will chop them out anyway. Also, don’t worry too much about overspending. The company gives no incentives for carrying over surplus at the end of the fiscal year and gives no rewards for under-spending.”

Communities that are deficient in honesty quickly become cultures of deception. Rita’s company will no doubt pay several long-term consequences as new employees learn that fiscal honesty is regarded as being naïve. The results are all too common in corporate life – waste, closed communications, empire building, slush funds, turf wars, excessive documentation and intrigue.

Companies that operate in this manner are inherently unstable because fear of embarrassing discoveries looms in every corner. Cover-ups blossom. As one author observes: “Without trust, we change from a community to a pack, from a society to a gang” (note 12).

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Dishonesty also “debases the currency of language, making business communication less efficient and more cumbersome” (note 13). Since we trust each other less, more attorneys are needed to review documents. Is it any coincidence that as the virtues of truthfulness and trust have decreased in American society, the number of attorneys has skyrocketed to over 850,000? Similarly, since 24 percent of all resumes contain substantial false information (note 14), is it any wonder that more sophisticated human resource personnel are needed to ferret out the truth about applicants? College admissions officers now find it necessary to double-check the veracity of financial aid claims of incoming students. This “truth audit” function not only indicates an erosion of community but also imposes a huge cost – in essence, a tax – on doing business.

It is no exaggeration to conclude that capitalism itself is at risk when honesty and trust are disregarded. Witness certain nations in Africa, the former Soviet Union and Asia where corruption is endemic. Cheating, bribing and distrust erode the very foundation of their economic systems (note 15). As English author Samuel Johnson once observed, even demons do not lie to one another, because the society of hell could not exist without truthfulness (note 16).

Dignity. The third value of honesty is that it respects the dignity of those to whom communications are directed. As image-bearers of God, recipients are entitled to accurate information so that they are able to make free and intelligent choices. In the medical field, doctors are required to provide patients with full data to ensure that all consent is fully informed. The concept of “informed consent” also applies to the marketplace, where the dignity of decisionmakers (for example, consumers, shareholders, employees, partners) must be protected by giving them sufficient information to preserve their autonomous choices.

FOOL’S GOLD. “The precious metals market was rocked when the principal managers of International Nesmont Industrial Corporation, a Canadian goldrefining firm selling stock over the New York Stock Exchange, were charge with criminal fraud. For six months before being discovered they had stockpiled brass instead of gold bars.” (note 17).

One ethicist has gone so far as to compare dishonesty to physical assault: both rob recipients of their freedom and dignity (note 18). No doubt investors in the Canadian gold-refining company felt so violated.

Adam Smith, the father of capitalism, prized the

notion of informed consent. For transactions to be truly voluntary, both parties must have access to accurate information. Otherwise they cannot deal for mutual benefit. While it may seem ironic to those who view capitalism as an incubator for dishonest practices, Smith taught that the market operates properly only if honest dealings are the norm.

Deception SLEEPING SICKNESS. Oversleeping for the third time in a month, Trish is late to work. In a panic about what to tell her supervisor, she concocts a story about having to care for a deathly ill aunt.

OVERCHARGE. Under pressure by his law firm to make his quota of two hundred billable hours per month, Kevin inflates the hours he has worked for Acme Corporation this week from thirty-five to thirty-nine hours. I’ll make it up next month, Kevin tells himself as he fills out the billing statement.

TRUTH VERSUS COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS. Jeung’s company manufactures and sells computer keyboards. In his negotiations with Fruitcake Computers, he promises to deliver a thousand TRX keyboards by July 1. While he knows that his company will be unable to deliver the goods prior to August 15, he does not inform his new customer for fear of losing its business.

He calculates that the late-delivery charges written into the contract can be easily absorbed by his company.

Deception may be defined as purposefully leading others to believe something we ourselves do not believe. This may be done through a wide variety of means, including written communication, verbal statements, body language, disguises and even silence. To say that deceivers are generally held in low esteem is an understatement. In the fourteenth century Dante placed them in the eighth circle of hell. Only traitors were at a lower level, and of course betrayal itself is generally a form of deception (note 19).

Lying, a subset of deception, includes three primary components. First, it requires intentionality. Innocently misinforming someone about street directions does not constitute lying, whereas purposeful misdirection does. Second, it involves communication. This concealment, though often deceptive, does not constitute a lie.

Third, the deceiver believes that the audience accepts the untruth as fact.

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Scripture strongly condemns deception because it is diametrically opposed to God’s holy-just-loving character. Indeed, “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb 6:18), for he keeps all his promises (Num 23:19) and communicates nothing but the truth (Rom 3:3-4). Rather, deception is a primary attribute of Satan, who, Jesus warned, has “no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

The ethical purity and moral separation required by holiness call for guileless behavior in the realm of truth telling. Of those who enter heaven, it is written that “no lie is found in their mouths; they are blameless” (Rev. 14:5). Deceitful individuals, on the other hand, are held accountable to God, ultimately threatened with eternal judgment (see, for example, Rev. 21:8, 27). Trish, Kevin and Jeung would be well advised to heed this warning.

Justice likewise condemns deception. Due process obliges Trish and Jeung to give honest information so that those to whom they are accountable (supervisor and customer, respectively) can make appropriate decisions.

Kevin’s lying also raises several justice concerns.

By over-billing his corporate client, he infringes on its property rights and breaches his firm’s contractual obligations. Further, by claiming to do more work than he has actually done, he undercuts the notion of merit within the firm. If pay, promotions and assignments are based in part on billable hours, he is acting unfairly vis-àvis his fellow attorneys. Compensatory justice now requires him to admit his wrongdoing to the firm and to ensure that his overcharging is corrected.

Finally, love requires empathy, mercy and the sacrificing of rights for others. Certainly Trish, Kevin and Jeung have displayed none of these characteristics in their dissembling. Love demands communication that is open, sincere and caring, not that which is secretive, manipulative and selfish.

Deception can lead to unforeseen, and often disastrous, consequences. As noted earlier, it attacks the very roots of honesty – trust, community and dignity. Scripture produces several relevant examples. When Jacob pretended to be his brother Esau in seeking a blessing from Isaac, their blind father, he destroyed the bond of trust between himself and his brother, splintered the family community, and violated Isaac’s right to bestow his blessing on Esau and Esau’s right to receive it (Gen. 27:145). Long-term relationships were sacrificed for the sake of illicit short-term gain. Likewise, when Jacob’s sons lied about the fate of their brother Joseph and Jacob later learned the truth, his confidence in them was undermined. Their lies

nearly destroyed the family unit and certainly infringed on Jacob’s dignity to make fully informed choices (Gen. 37:19-36; 43:1-45:28).

Similarly, when Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, his master’s trust was destroyed and he was thrown into jail (Gen 39:1-23). Much more could certainly be said about Jeremiah’s bemoaning a general lack of trustworthiness (Jer. 9:4-8), Judas’s betrayal of Jesus (John 13:18-30), and Paul’s admonition to “put off falsehood and speak truthfully to [your] neighbor” (Eph. 4:25).

Is Deception Ever Justified?

In an ideal world, our analysis would end here.

Honesty, a virtue that reflects holiness-justicelove, is to be diligently pursued while the vice of deception is to be scorned. For while the former builds up trust, community and dignity, the latter – like a hungry termite in soft wood – devours credibility, cohesion and integrity. Unfortunately, our world is imperfect: sin has eroded both our ability to speak and hear the truth clearly. As a result, Norman Bowie writes of “ideal” versus “acceptable exchanges” in the marketplace, with the latter category providing some room for minor deceptions, ambiguities and selective concealments (note 20).

Historically, the church has been divided as to whether exceptions to the general principle of truth telling exist. Several of the early church fathers – including Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Chysostom – permitted untruths to be told if the cause was just and necessary (note 21).

Martin Luther went further, identifying “helpful lies” that are justified by the deceiver’s altruistic motives (note 22). Anglican priest Joseph Fletcher opened the floodgates by totally subordinating truth telling to his definition of love – justifying any deception so long as it is motivated by love.

While orthodox Christianity rejects Fletcher’s approach, many scholars do consider deception to be a viable alternative if certain conditions exist. These include the following: Have all other honest options been exhausted? Is the situation sufficiently dire? Is the deceiver’s motive selfless? From this perspective, honesty is the general rule and deception the exception.

Deception requires a reason: honesty does not.

In other words, the deceiver must carry the burden of proof to justify his behavior (note 23).

Other Christian thinkers have not been so sanguine about the idea of exceptions to truth telling. Augustine, for instance, compared the concept of “just lies” to “chaste adultery” (note 24). For him the debate about possible exceptions was resolved by the Scripture: “No lie

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comes from the truth” (1 John 2:21). Reformer John Calvin and Methodist founder John Wesley followed Augustine in adhering to this uncompromising position (note 25).

Apa itu ICCC?

While all lying was sinful to Augustine, he did fudge a bit in describing eight levels of the sin with decreasing levels of punishment (note 26).

Taking liberty to apply his teachings to the marketplace today, he would punish selfish liars more (for example, false advertisers and embezzlers) and altruistic liars less (for example, flatterers and protectors of fellow employees).

Following Augustine’s lead, the ninth-century Irish church relied heavily on the penitent’s motive to determine the appropriate sanction. Selfish liars were to receive either three days of silence or seven hundred lashes on the wrist, while altruistic liars were obligated to perform no penance whatsoever (note 27). Critics quickly pointed to what they perceived to be a fatal flaw in this approach, however. If liars knew in advance that their “officious” (helpful, loving, altruistic) lies would be pardoned, what moral constraints would they feel about such lying? Further, did not such an approach cheapen the very notions of sin and repentance?

Others in the medieval church sought a way around the strictness of Augustine’s position.

Utilizing a doctrine called “mental reservation,” speakers were not considered to by lying even if they intentionally stated untruths so long as they added information in their minds that would make their communication true (note 28). For instance, if a supervisor were to say to a subordinate, “Your evaluation is average,” while making the inaudible mental reservation that it is average for the group of incompetents about to be fired, she would not be lying. Or if a retailer were to respond negatively to the question “Do you think this lamp will sell well?” while silently adding mentally at the Salvation Army thrift store, no deceit is said to result.

Forum dimana pesan Kristus untuk zaman ini dijabarkan, disampaikan dan dinyatakan kepada Dunia Bisnis ICCC adalah badan yang independen dan inter-denominasi, bukan menjadi bagian dari suatu gereja tertentu namun ikut melayani gereja yang membutuhkan pelayanan ICCC. ICCC berkantor Pusat di Orebrö Swedia dan saat ini telah berada di sekitar 65 negara di lima benua.

ICCC Indonesia melakukan berbagai kegiatan dan pelayanan baik terhadap anggota, maupun terhadap dunia bisnis khususnya dalam lingkungan Kristiani.

Undanglah kami untuk memberikan presentasi mengenai visi, misi dan tujuan ICCC bagi dunia bisnis dan profesi

Obviously such an approach is highly suspect and was quickly rejected by the church. It does, however, point out the extent to which some will go to identify exceptions to the principle of honesty. For while Augustine’s absolutist position solves one problem – moral inconsistency – it creates another – a lack of flexibility in difficult situations. And the tension between these two has serious ramifications for the business practitioner.

(Kirimkan kutipan, artikel, kata-kata mutiara atau kisah pengalaman anda yang dapat memperkuat iman pembaca Newsletter ini kepada TUHAN baik itu berupa pengalaman pribadi maupun orang lain dengan ciri utama bisnis dan rohani)

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VISI, MISI DAN TUJUAN ICCC International Christian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) lahir dari kepatuhan terhadap visi yang diberikan selama kurun waktu enam tahun kepada seorang usahawan Swedia J. Gunnar Olson, yang diteguhkan dengan nubuatan dan terbukanya pintu kesempatan disekitarnya yang sebelumnya tertutup.

ICCC merupakan panggilan yang serius dan menantang bagi pengusaha Kristen untuk mengenali jaman yang sedang kita masuki dan dengan terang dari pengenalan itu memasuki dimensi iman yang baru yang disediakan bagi mereka yang …” takut akan TUHAN … berbicara satu sama lain … dan menghormati namaNya.” (Maleakhi 3: 16) Visi ini memanggil para pengusaha dan kaum profesi di seluruh dunia yang terbeban untuk saling berhubungan, bertukar pendapat, memperdagang-kan barang dan menyediakan jasa, saling mendukung dan menguatkan secara rohani dan materi.

Berdasarkan eksistensi dari visi itu sendiri memproklamirkan otoritas Kristus yang mutlak diseluruh dunia.

Pada intinya ICCC adalah kehendak TUHAN untuk memperluas tali kasih-Nya, melalui gerejaNya, didalam dunia usaha. Hal ini menuntut para pelaku bisnis mencari terlebih dahulu KerajaanNya dan segala Kebenaran-Nya.

Panggilan ICCC: “Mereka akan menjadi milik kesayanganKu sendiri, firman TUHAN semesta Alam pada hari yang Kusiapkan. Aku akan mengasihi mereka sama seperti seseorang menyayangi anaknya yang melayani dia. Maka kamu akan melihat kembali perbedaan antara orang benar dan orang fasik, antara orang yang beribadah kepada TUHAN dan orang yang tidak beribadah kepada-Nya.” (Maleakhi 3: 17-18)

KEYAKINAN IMAN ICCC: 

Satu-satunya TUHAN pencipta segala sesuatu dalam kesatuan Trinitas: Bapa, Anak, dan Roh Kudus.



Keilahian TUHAN Yesus Kristus.

Kelahiran-Nya dari rahim seorang Perawan.

Karya penebusan dosa manusia melalui kematian-Nya diatas kayu salib.

Kebangkitan-Nya. Hak otoriatas diri-Nya atas dunia dan Kedatangan-Nya yang kedua kali dalam Kuasa dan Kemuliaan-Nya.



Alkitab, sepenuhnya sebagai Firman TUHAN yang memberikan inspirasi dan berbagai peraturan bagi kehidupan yang dilandasi iman.



Keselamatan pribadi orang berdosa dan kebutuhannya untuk mengalami proses regenerasi melalui karya Roh Kudus dalam menuju menjadikannya sebagai manusia yang dikehendaki oleh TUHAN, seutuhnya.

Urapan tersedia bagi mereka yang dengan mata melihat dan telinga mendengar panggilan jaman.

Sebagaimana halnya Raja Daud yang menerima urapan untuk menjadi raja, jauh sebelum dia menjadi Raja, yang keadaan pada saat urapan diberikan sama sekali tidak mungkin bagi Daud untuk menjadi Raja, demikianlah ICCC memanggil para pengusaha Kristen sebelum peristiwanya terjadi untuk mengalami kebebasan masuk ke dalam dimensi baru, dimana sasaran, strategi dan perencanaan bersama-sma diwujudnyatakan sesuai dengan iman di dalam Kristus.

ICCC mencanangkan panggilan itu sejalan dengan rencana TUHAN bagi jaman ini sebagai kunci memperoleh berkat dan pertumbuhan dan agar dapat bangkit berkemenangan diatas gelombang ombak yang mengancam.

Transformed Working Life (TWL) adalah Pelatihan resmi dari Kantor Internasional bagi anggota ICCC dalam memperlengkapi anggota dengan pengetahuan dan pemahaman latar belakang, tujuan dan penerapan prinsip-prinsip Kerajaan TUHAN bagi dunia bisnis dan profesi.

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• God allows us to use our free will.

TWL diperuntukkan bagi anggota dan dapat diikuti secara cuma-cuma, namun terbuka juga bagi siapa saja yang berminat untuk mengikutinya.

•• Some Bible illustrations: • Joshua: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” He chose God, blessings, and life.

TWL

diselenggarakan dalam bahasa Indonesia dan dilengkapi dengan buku panduannya, yang telah diterjemahkan kedalam Bahasa Indonesia juga, sehingga para peserta betul-betul akan memperoleh manfa’at yang besar dan mengalami transformasi dalam kehidupan pribadi maupun bisnisnya.

TWL difasilitasi oleh anggota National Board yang terlatih dan dikoordinir oleh V.P. Teaching: Eliezer H. Hardjo bersama dengan Teaching Team: Johanis S. Najoan dan Ridwan Naftali

• The rich young ruler chose his wealth over following Jesus (Matthew 19:21-23). And Jesus did not try to coerce him to change his mind.

• Paul wrote: (2 Timothy 4:10) “...Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me.”

Demas chose the world over serving the Lord.

•• We face similar, freewill choices every day: • We can choose to pray or not. God won’t force us.

• We can choose to live holy lives or not.

• We can choose to share our faith with others or just to be secret Christians.

• We can choose to be law-abiding, honest citizens, or we can choose to walk the edge and push the limits.

•• In these and thousands of other choices, the Bible gives us wisdom to make right choices, but God does not force us. He grants us free will to choose.

Seven Words That Will Change Your Life

by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D. Summary: Jesus spoke seven simple words that have the potential to change your life. They will bring you into line with His plans and purposes for you on this earth.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.

Now CHOOSE life....

•• God offers us choices — life or death, blessings or curses, heaven or hell — and He says, “You choose.”

•• In this context (free will to choose) I’m going to share with you seven words that will CHANGE YOUR LIFE — “Not My Will, But Thine Be Done”.

Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray: “„Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, [10] your kingdom come, YOUR WILL BE DONE on earth as it is in heaven....‟ ” 10, KJV “...THY WILL BE DONE...”

•• “THY WILL BE DONE.” If said sincerely to God daily, choice by choice, this can change your life!

•• But this can get scary — • I’ve heard some say, “But God might call me to the mission field!”

• Or...God might have me go up to that homeless BERITA ICCC INDONESIA – JUNI 2010

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person and offer a kind word and share my faith.

• Or...God might not let me keep dating this person.

• Or...“Lord, I might lose control of my life if I say to you, „Thy will be done.‟ ” That’s correct! # Remember, these words will CHANGE your life.

•• But think about it: What could be safer than to be in the will of God? • What could be more fulfilling than to be exactly in the center of His will?

Luke 22:41-42 He withdrew about a stone‟s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, [42] “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet NOT MY will, but YOURS be done.”

42, KJV “Not my will, but thine, be done.”

•• This scene describes it perfectly: • Jesus had His own will: “...remove this cup from me.”

• “YET NOT MY will, but YOURS be done.”

•• Was Jesus’ will here sinful? No; He never sinned.

• But if He had followed His desire to escape the cross, we would not be saved!

• So it’s possible for our will to desire things that are not necessarily sinful, but are not the RIGHT CHOICES. • For example, is it a sin to get very busy and go several days without spending time in prayer and the Word?

13, KJV For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

•• This is a major truth. GOD works in us “to WILL ... HIS good pleasure.”

•• You may have many legitimate desires, but they’re not all the will of God. Remember Jesus in the Garden? Remember Paul's two sincere false starts before Macedonia?

•• Here’s how I believe God wants it to work: 1) Recognize that not all apparently wholesome inclinations are the will of God. Some are, some aren’t.

2) Determine to surrender to GOD CONTROL of your life — “NOT MY will be done.”

3) Determine to ASK Him daily: “THY will be done.”

4) With your heart open and obedient to God like that, watch Him work in your heart “TO WILL and to do of HIS good pleasure.”

So...seven words that will change your life: “Not my will, but thine, be done.”

Preached at South Valley Church, Phoenix, Oregon, November 5, 2003

Terimakasih anda telah meluangkan waktu membaca Berita ICCC Indonesia ini dan silahkan mem-forward-nya ke rekan bisnis anda agar memperoleh berkat rohani yang sama.

Redaksi

• Probably not, but is that God’s will?

• Stopping what you are doing and saying, “THY will be done” would certainly bring changed conduct.

Philippians 2:12-13 ...[13] for it is GOD who works in you TO WILL and to act according to HIS good purpose.

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