Akristu Oyambirira ndi Dziko

PAFUPIFUPI zaka zikwi ziŵiri zapitazo, chochitika china chodabwitsa kwambiri chinachitika ku Middle East. Mwana wa Mulungu wobadwa yekha anatumizidwa kuchokera kumalo ake okhala akumwamba kuti adzakhale m’dziko la mtundu wa anthu kwanyengo yaifupi. Kodi anthu ochuluka anachita motani? Mtumwi Yohane akuyankha kuti: “[Yesu] anali m’dziko lapansi, ndi dziko linalengedwa ndi iye, koma dziko silinamzindikira iye. Anadza kwa zake [Israyeli] za iye yekha, ndipo ake a mwini yekha sanamlandira iye.”​—Yohane 1:10, 11.

Dziko silinalandira Yesu, Mwana wa Mulungu. Chifukwa ninji? Yesu anafotokoza chifukwa chimodzi pamene anati: “Dziko lapansi . . . lindida popeza ine ndilichitira umboni, kuti ntchito zake zili zoipa.” (Yohane 7:7) Potsirizira pake, dziko limodzimodzilo​—loimiridwa ndi atsogoleri ena achipembedzo Achiyuda, mfumu ya Edomu, ndi wandale za dziko wa ku Roma​—linachititsa Yesu kuphedwa. (Luka 22:66–23:25; Machitidwe 3:14, 15; 4:24-28) Bwanji za otsatira a Yesu? Kodi dziko  likakhala lokonzekera kuwalandira? Ayi. Imfa yake itayandikira, Yesu anawachenjeza kuti: “Mukadakhala a dziko lapansi, dziko lapansi likadakonda zake za lokha; koma popeza simuli a dziko lapansi, koma ine ndinakusankhani inu mwa dziko lapansi, chifukwa cha ichi likudani inu.”​—Yohane 15:19.

Munthaŵi ya Atumwi

Mawu a Yesu anakhaladi owona. Patapita masabata oŵerengeka okha imfa yake itachitika, atumwi ake anamangidwa, kuwopsezedwa, ndi kumenyedwa. (Machitidwe 4:1-3; 5:17, 18, 40) Pasanapite nthaŵi, Stefano wachanguyo anatengeredwa pamaso pa Bwalo la Akulu la Ayuda ndiyeno anaponyedwa miyala kufikira imfa. (Machitidwe 6:8-12; 7:54, 57, 58) Pambuyo pake, mtumwi Yakobo anaphedwa ndi Mfumu Herode Agripa I. (Machitidwe 12:1, 2) Mkati mwa maulendo ake aumishonale, Paulo anazunzidwa mosonkhezeredwa ndi Ayuda Omwazikana.​—Machitidwe 13:50; 14:2, 19.

Kodi Akristu oyambirirawo anachitapo kanthu motani pachitsutso chotero? M’masiku oyambirira, pamene olamulira achipembedzo analetsa atumwi kulalikira m’dzina la Yesu, atumwiwo anati: “Tiyenera kumvera Mulungu koposa anthu.” (Machitidwe 4:19, 20; 5:29) Umenewu unapitiriza kukhala mkhalidwe wawo paliponse pamene chitsutso chinabuka. Komabe, mtumwi Paulo analangiza Akristu mu Roma ‘kukhala omvera maulamuliro [aboma] aakulu.’ Anawalangizanso kuti: “Ngati nkutheka, monga momwe mukhoza, khalani ndi mtendere ndi anthu onse.” (Aroma 12:18; 13:1) Chifukwa cha chimenecho, Akristu oyambirira anafunikira kukhala ndi uchikatikati koma wovuta. Iwo anamvera Mulungu monga Wolamulira wawo wamkulu. Panthaŵi imodzimodziyo, anafunikira kumvera boma la dziko ndi kuyesa kukhala amtendere ndi anthu onse.

Akristu m’Dziko Lachiroma

Kalelo m’dziko la zaka za zana loyamba la ulamuliro wa Roma, mosakayikira Akristu anapindula ndi Pax Romana, kapena Mtendere wa Aroma, wochititsidwa ndi magulu ankhondo Achiroma. Mkhalidwe wodalirika wa kusungitsa lamulo ndi dongosolo, misewu yabwino, ndi kayendedwe ka panyanja kotetezereka bwino zinapangitsa mkhalidwe umene unachititsa kufutukuka kwa Chikristu. Mwachiwonekere, Akristu oyambirira anazindikira za thayo lawo kuchitaganya namvera lamulo la Yesu la ‘kupereka zake za Kaisara kwa Kaisara.’ (Marko 12:17) Polembera wolamulira Wachiroma Antoninus Pius (138-161 C.E.), Justin Martyr ananena kuti Akristu anakhoma misonkho yawo, “mosavuta kuposa anthu onse.” (First Apology, mutu 17) Mu 197 C.E., Tertullian anauza olamulira Achiroma kuti okhometsa misonkho awo “anali ndi ngongole ya kuthokoza Akristu” chifukwa cha njira yowona mtima imene anakhomera misonkho yawo. (Apology, mutu 42) Imeneyi ndiyo imodzi ya njira zimene anatsatirira uphungu wa Paulo wakuti ayenera kumvera maulamuliro aakulu.

Ndiponso, malinga ndi mmene malamulo a mkhalidwe wawo Wachikristu anawalolera, Akristu oyambirira anayesa kukhala ndi mtendere ndi anansi awo. Komatu zimenezi zinali zovuta. Dziko loŵazinga kwakukulukulu linali ndi makhalidwe oipa ndipo linatitimira m’kulambira mafano kwa Agiriki ndi Aroma, kumene kulambira mfumu kunali kutangowonjezeredwa kumene. Chipembedzo chachikunja cha Aroma ndicho kwakukulukulu chinali chipembedzo cha Boma, chotero kukana kulikonse kwa kuchichita kunali kuwonedwa kukhala kudana ndi Bomalo. Kodi zimenezi zinaika Akristu pamkhalidwe wotani?

 Profesa wa ku Oxford wotchedwa E. G. Hardy analemba kuti: “Tertullian amatchula zinthu zambiri zimene zinali zosatheka kuchitidwa ndi Mkristu wokhala ndi chikumbumtima chabwino, monga kuloŵa m’kulambira mafano: mwachitsanzo, kulumbiritsana pamapangano; kuunikiridwa kwa zitseko pamapwando, ndi zina zotero; madzoma onse Achikunja; maseŵera ndi kuseŵera ndi zinyama; ntchito yophunzitsa mabuku [aukatswiri achikunja]; kutumikira m’gulu lankhondo; maudindo a m’boma”​—Christianity and the Roman Government.

Inde, kunali kovuta kukhala m’dziko lolamulidwa ndi Aroma popanda kulolera molakwa chikhulupiriro Chachikristu. Wolemba nkhani wina wa ku Falansa Wachikatolika A. Hamman akulemba kuti: “Kunali kovuta kuchita kanthu kalikonse popanda kukumana ndi mulungu wakutiwakuti. Mkhalidwe wa Mkristu unamdzetsera mavuto tsiku ndi tsiku; anali wosiyana ndi chitaganya . . . Anayang’anizana ndi mavuto osalekeza panyumba, m’makwalala, pamsika . . . Poyenda pakhwalala, kaya ndinzika Yachiroma kapena ayi, Mkristu anafunikira kugwetsa nkhope podutsa pakachisi kapena fano. Kodi akapeŵa motani kuchita motero popanda kuchititsa ena kuyamba kumkayikira, komabe kodi ndimotani mmene akanagwirizanira ndi lamulolo popanda kupalamula mlandu wa kusakhulupirika? Ngati anali kuchita malonda ndipo anafunikira kukongola ndalama, anafunikira kulumbira kwa wokongoletsayo ndi maina a milungu. . . . Ngati anavomereza kutenga udindo wakutiwakuti m’boma, anayembekezeredwa kupereka nsembe. Ngati analembedwa ntchito ndi boma, kodi akanapeŵa motani kulumbira ndi kutenga mbali m’miyambo ya kutumikira m’gulu lankhondo?”​—La vie quotidienne des premiers chrétiens (95-197) (Moyo wa Tsiku ndi Tsiku Pakati pa Akristu Oyambirira, 95-197 C.E.).

Nzika Zabwino, Komabe Zonamiziridwa

Pafupifupi 60 kapena 61 C.E., pamene Paulo anali ku Roma akumayembekezera kuzengedwa mlandu ndi Mfumu Nero, atsogoleri Achiyuda anati ponena za Akristu oyambirira: “Mpatuko uwu, tidziŵa kuti aunenera ponseponse.” (Machitidwe 28:22) Zolembedwa za mbiri zimanena kuti Akristu anatsutsidwa​—komatu mosayenera. M’buku lake lakuti The Rise of Christianity, E. W. Barnes amasimba kuti: “M’zolembedwa zake zodalirika zoyambirira kagulu Kachikristu kamasonyezedwa kwakukulukulu kukhala ka makhalidwe abwino ndi komvera lamulo. Ziŵalo zake zinakhumba kukhala nzika zabwino ndi anthu okhulupirika. Izo zinanyansidwa ndi zinyengo ndi kululuzika kwa chikunja. M’moyo waumwini iwo anafunafuna mtendere ndi anansi ndi mabwenzi odalirika. Anaphunzitsidwa kukhala olama m’maganizo, antchito ndi amoyo woyera. Iwo anali okhulupirika kumalamulo awo a mkhalidwe, mwa kuwona mtima ndi chowonadi pakati pa kuipa komapitiriza ndi mkhalidwe wa kusadziletsa. Miyezo yawo m’nkhani za kugonana inali yapamwamba: chomangira cha ukwati chinalemekezedwa ndipo moyo wa banja unali woyera. Pokhala ndi mikhalidwe yabwino yotero iwo sakanatha, monga momwe munthu angalingalirire, kukhala nzika zovutitsa. Komabe kwa nthaŵi yaitali ananyozedwa, kunamiziridwa ndi kudedwa.”

Monga momwedi anthu m’nthaŵi yakaleyo sanamvetsetsere Yesu, awanso sanamvetsetse Akristu ndipo nchifukwa chake anawada. Popeza kuti anakana kulambira mfumu ndi milungu yachikunja, anaimbidwa mlandu wa kusakhulupirira Mulungu. Patachitika tsoka, iwo ankaimbidwa mlandu wa kukwiyitsa milungu. Chifukwa chakuti sanapite kukaonerera maseŵera a khalidwe loipa kapena kumka kuzionetsero za anthu omenyana ndi zinyama, analingaliridwa kukhala odzisankha, ‘anthu oipidwadi ndi mtundu wa anthu.’ Adani awo ananena kuti mabanja awo anaswedwa ndi “mpatuko” Wachikristu ndi kuti ndicho chifukwa chake unali wowopseza kukhazikika kwa chitaganya. Tertullian anasimba za amuna okwatira achikunja amene anakonda kuti akazi awo achite chigololo koposa kukhala Akristu.

Akristu anasulizidwa chifukwa chakuti anatsutsa kutaya mimba, kofala panthaŵiyo. Komabe, adani awo anawaimba mlandu wa kupha ana. Ananenedwa kuti iwo anali kumwa mwazi wa ana operekedwa nsembe  pamisonkhano yawo. Panthaŵi imodzimodziyo, adani awo anayesa kuwaumiriza kudya masoseji amwazi, akumadziŵa kuti kumeneku kunali kotsutsana ndi chikumbumtima chawo. Motero otsutsa ameneŵa anatsutsidwa ndi chinenezo cha iwo eni.​—Tertullian, Apology, mutu 9.

Onyozedwa Kukhala Mpatuko Watsopano

Wolemba mbiri Kenneth Scott Latourette analemba kuti: “Mpambo winanso wa zinenezo unachititsa Chikristu kusekedwa chifukwa cha chiyambi chake chatsopano ndipo unachisiyanitsa ndi uchikale wa zipembedzo zinzake [Chiyuda ndi zipembedzo za Agiriki ndi Aroma zachikunja].” (A History of the Expansion of Christianity, Voliyumu 1, tsamba 131) Kuchiyambiyambi kwa zaka za zana lachiŵiri C.E., wolemba mbiri Wachiroma Suetonius anatcha Chikristu kuti “kagulu katsopano kamatsenga kopulupudza.” Tertullian anachitira umboni kuti dzina lenilenilo lakuti Akristu linadedwa ndi kuti Akristu anali mpatuko wosakondedwa. Ponena za mmene akuluakulu a ulamuliro wa Roma anawonera Akristu m’zaka za zana lachiŵiri, Robert M. Grant analemba kuti: “Lingaliro lalikulu linali lakuti Chikristu chinangokhala chipembedzo chosafunika, ndipo mwinamwake chaupandu.”​—Early Christianity and Society.

Onenezedwa Kukhala Otembenuza Anthu Moumiriza

M’buku lake lakuti Les premiers siècles de l’Eglise (Zaka za Mazana Oyambirira za Tchalitchi), profesa Jean Bernardi wa pa Sorbonne analemba kuti: “[Akristu] anafunikira kumka kulikonse kukalankhula ndi aliyense. Pamisewu yaikulu ndi m’mizinda, pamisika ndi panyumba za anthu. Olandiridwa kapena osalandiridwa. Kwa osauka, ndi anthu achuma. Kwa anthu wamba ndi akazembe a zigawo za Roma . . . Anafunikira kuyenda ulendo wa pamsewu, panyanja, ndi kupita kumalekezero a dziko lapansi.”

Kodi anatero? Mwachionekere iwo anatero. Profesa Léon Homo akusimba kuti Akristu oyambirira anatsutsidwa ndi anthu chifukwa cha ‘kutembenuza kwawo anthu kwa changu.’ Profesa Latourette akunena kuti pamene Ayuda anataya changu chawo cha kutembenuza anthu, “Akristu, kumbali ina, anali kutembenuza anthu moumiriza ndipo chotero anayambitsa mkwiyo.”

M’zaka za zana lachiŵiri C.E., wanthanthi Wachiroma Celsus anasuliza njira yolalikira ya Akristu. Iye ananena kuti Chikristu chinali cha anthu osaphunzira ndi kuti ‘chinakhutiritsa maganizo a anthu opusa okha, akapolo, akazi, ndi ana.’ Iye anaimba mlandu Akristu wa kusanduliza maganizo a “anthu osavuta kupusitsa,” kuwachititsa “kukhulupirira popanda kulingalira bwino.” Ananena kuti iwo anauza ophunzira awo atsopano kuti: “Musafunse mafunso; ingokhulupirirani.” Komabe, malinga nkunena kwa Origen, Celsus mwiniyo anavomereza kuti “sanali anthu wamba okha amene anakopeka ndi chiphunzitso cha Yesu ndi kulandira chipembedzo Chakecho.”

Sanali mu Mgwirizano wa Zipembedzo

Akristu oyambirira anasulizidwanso chifukwa chakuti ananena kuti ndiwo anali ndi chowonadi cha Mulungu mmodzi wowona. Sanagwirizane ndi zipembedzo zina, kapena kuloŵana zikhulupiriro. Latourette analemba kuti: “Mosiyana ndi zipembedzo zochuluka za panthaŵiyo, iwo [Akristuwo] sanafune kuyanjana ndi zipembedzo zina. . . . Mosiyana ndi kulekerera kwakukulu kumene kunali m’mipatuko ina, iwo analengeza kuti anali ndi chowonadi chenicheni.”

 Mu 202 C.E., Mfumu Septimius Severus anapereka lamulo loletsa Akristu kutembenuza anthu. Komabe, zimenezi, sizinawaletse kuchitira umboni za chikhulupiriro chawo. Latourette akufotokoza za chotulukapo chake kuti: “M’kukana kwake kugwirizana ndi mikhalidwe yachikunja imene inalipo ndi miyambo yambiri ya chitaganya ndi machitachita a makhalidwe oipa apanthaŵiyo [Chikristu choyambirira] chinakulitsa mgwirizano ndi kupanga gulu limene linatsutsana ndi chitaganya cha anthu. Kulekana kovutako ndi chitaganya ndi kugwirizana nawo kunapatsa otsatira ake chikhutiro chimene chinali magwero a mphamvu yowapangitsa kupirira chizunzo ndi yopatsa changu m’kutembenuza anthu ambiri.”

Chifukwa chake, mbiri yake njowonekera bwino. Kwakukulukulu, Akristu oyambirira, ngakhale kuti anali kuyesayesa kukhala nzika zabwino ndi kukhala mwamtendere ndi anthu onse, anakana kukhala “mbali ya dziko.” (Yohane 15:19, NW) Analemekeza ulamuliro. Koma pamene Kaisara anawaletsa kulalikira, sakanachitira mwina koma kupitirizabe kulalikira. Anayesa kukhala mwamtendere ndi anthu onse koma anakana kulolera molakwa pamiyezo ya makhalidwe oipa ndi kulambira mafano kwachikunja. Chifukwa cha zonsezi, ananyozedwa, ananamiziridwa, kudedwa, ndi kuzunzidwa, monga momwedi Kristu ananeneratu kuti adzatero.​—Yohane 16:33.

Kodi kulekana kwawo ndi dziko kunapitirizabe? Kapena kodi, m’kupita kwanthaŵi, awo amene anadzinenera kukhala ochita Chikristu anasintha mkhalidwe wawo wa maganizo pa zimenezi?

[Mawu Otsindika patsamba 4]

“Mkhalidwe wa Mkristu unamdzetsera mavuto tsiku ndi tsiku; anali wosiyana ndi chitaganya”

[Mawu Otsindika patsamba 6]

‘Chikristu chinali kusekedwa chifukwa cha chiyambi chake chatsopano ndi kusiyanitsidwa ndi uchikale wa zipembedzo zinzake’

[Chithunzi patsamba 3]

Chifukwa chakuti Akristu anakana kulambira mfumu ya Roma ndi milungu yake yachikunjayo, ananenezedwa kukhala osakhulupirira Mulungu

[Mawu a Chithunzi]

Museo della Civiltà Romana, Roma

[Chithunzi patsamba 7]

Akristu a m’zaka za zana loyamba anadziŵika monga alaliki achangu a uthenga wa Ufumu

 [Mawu a Chithunzi patsamba 2]

Chikuto: Alinari/​Art Resource, N.Y.