1. Ni bantu ba muringo ki abu Yehova arikweiriza haihi, kandi ahabw’enki bashemereire kuguma nibareeba omu by’omwoyo?

YESU akagira ati: “Abaramya ab’amazima nibaija kuramya Isheboona omu mwoyo n’omu mazima; ahakuba Isheboona asherura abari nk’abo kumuramya.” (Yohaana 4:23) Yehova ku arikubona abantu nk’abo nk’oku naiwe yaakuboine, naabeiriza haihi hamwe n’Omwana we. (Yohaana 6:44) Ogwo ka n’omugisha! Kwonka abarikukunda amazima ga Baibuli bashemereire ‘kuguma nibeetegyereza ebirikusiimwa’ Yehova, ahakuba Sitaane n’omukugu omu kubeihabeiha abantu.—Abaefeso 5:10; Okushuuruurwa 12:9.

2. Shoboorora oku Yehova arikutwara abo abarikujwanzya okuramya okw’amazima n’okutari kw’amazima.

² Teekateeka aha kyabaire aha Rushozi Sinai obu Abaisraeli baashaba Arooni ngu abakorere ruhanga. Arooni akaikiriza, yaabakorera akanyena k’ezaabu, yaagira ngu nikajwekyera Yehova. Akagira ati: “Nyencakare nihaija kubaho obugyenyi bw’ekiro kikuru kya [Yehova].” Mbwenu shi ekikorwa ekyo eky’okujwanzya okuramya okw’amazima n’okutari kw’amazima kikashemeza Yehova? Ngaaha. Ahabw’ekikorwa ekyo, Yehova akahwerekyereza abantu enkumi ishatu abaaramize ekishushani ekyo. (Okuruga 32:1-6, 10, 28) N’enki eki turikwega omuri eki? Twaba nitwenda kwerindira omu kukunda kwa Ruhanga, ‘titushemereire kukwata aha kintu kyona ekitashemeire,’ kureka tushemereire kwemarira ahari Yehova.—Isaaya 52:11; Ezekieli 44:23; Abagalatia 5:9.

3, 4. Ahabw’enki tushemereire kukuratira emisingye ya Baibuli twaba nitushwijuma emigyenzo n’emikoro mingi ey’omu bunaku obu?

³ Eky’obusaasi, bwanyima y’okufa kw’entumwa ezaabaire nizihakanisa okuramya okw’ebishuba, abantu abaabaire nibeeyeta  Abakristaayo kandi abaabaire batarikukunda amazima, bakatandika kwikiriza emigyenzo y’ekikaafiire, emikoro n’ebiro “bikuru” ebi baayetsire eby’Ekikristaayo. (2 Abatesalonika 2:7, 10) Omu kushwijuma bimwe ahari ebi, yeetegyereze oku birikworeka omwoyo gw’ensi, beitu gutari gwa Ruhanga. Okutwarira hamwe, emikoro y’ensi yoona eine eki erikushushanisa: Neeyebembeza ebyetengo by’omubiri, kandi eshagika enyegyesa z’ebishuba n’eby’obufumu, obumanyiso ‘bw’Orurembo orukuru Babulooni.’ * (Okushuuruurwa 18:2-4, 23) Kandi, guma noijuka ngu Yehova akareeba ebikorwa by’ekikaafiire ebirikunugwa ebyarugiremu emigyenzo mingi ey’omu bunaku obu. Hatariho kubanganisa, emigyenzo nk’egyo na hati neemugwisa kubi. Oku arikugireeba nikyo kishemereire kuba kikuru ahariitwe.—2 Yohaana 6, 7.

⁴ Nk’Abakristaayo ab’amazima, nitumanya ngu emikoro emwe terikushemeza Yehova. N’ahabw’ekyo tushemereire kumariirira kutagyejumbamu. Okweijutsya ahabw’enki Yehova atarikushemezibwa emikoro nk’egyo nikiija kutubaasisa kuguma tumaririire kwetantarira kimwe ekintu kyona ekirikubaasa kuturemesa kwerindira omu kukunda kwa Ruhanga.

5. Ahabw’enki nitubaasa kuhamya ngu Yesu tarazairwe ebiro 25 Okwaikumi-n’abiri?

⁵ Baibuli terikugamba aha kukuza okuzaarwa kwa Yesu. Ebiro byenyine ebi Yesu yaazaariirweho tibirikumanywa. N’ahabw’ekyo, nitubaasa kuhamya ngu tarazairwe ebiro 25 Okwaikumi-n’abiri, obwire bw’obutiti omu nsi egyo ei yaazaariirwemu. *  Luka akahandiika ngu obu Yesu yaazaarwa, ‘abariisa bakaba bari omu ishwa’ nibarinda amatungo gaabo. (Luka 2:8-11) Kuri noogira ngu abariisa bakaba baba ‘bari omu ishwa’ omwaka gwona, ekyo tikikaabaire kikuru kuhandiikwa. Kwonka ahabw’okugira ngu Betelehemu omu Kwaikumi-n’abiri neegira obwire bw’obutiti n’enjura nyingi otwariiremu n’orubaare, amatungo gakaba gatairwe omu maju kandi abariisa baine kuba baabaire ‘batari mu ishwa’. Okwongyera ahari ekyo, Yosefu na Mariamu bakaza Betelehemu ahabw’okuba Kaisaari Augusto akaragiira ngu habeho okubarwa kw’abantu. (Luka 2:1-7) Kandi tikirikubaasika kugira ngu Kaisaari akaragiira abantu abaabaire batarikukunda obutegyeki bwa Rooma okuza omu ndembo ezi baazaariirwemu omu bwire bw’obutiti bwingi.

6, 7. (a) Emigyenzo emingi eya Noiri neekomooka nkahi? (b) Okuha ebiconco okw’omuri Noiri nikutaana kuta aha kw’Abakristaayo?

⁶ Noiri terikukomooka omu Byahandiikirwe, kureka neekomooka omu mikoro y’ekikaafiire eya ira, nka Saturnalia, omukoro gw’okusingiza Saturn ruhanga w’Abarooma ow’orwezo. Nikyo kimwe, okurugiirira aha mbaririra yaabo, abaramya ba ruhanga orikwetwa Mithra bakaba bakuza ebiro 25 Okwaikumi-n’abiri “nk’ekiro ky’okuzaarwa kw’eizooba eritaremwa,” nikwo ekitabo New Catholic Encyclopedia kirikugira. “Noiri ekatandika omu bwire obu okuramya eizooba kwabaire nikutwarwa nka kukuru munonga omuri Rooma,” emyaka nka magana ashatu bwanyima y’okufa kwa Kristo.

⁷ Omu mikoro yaabo, abakaafiire bakaba bahaana ebiconco kandi bakora obugyenyi, ebintu ebikirikukorwa n’omuri Noiri ey’obwire obu. Nk’oku kiri n’omu bunaku obu, ebiconco ebingi ebi baabaire baha aha Noiri omu bwire bw’Abarooma, bakaba batabiha n’omutima ogurikugambwaho omu 2 Abakorinso 9:7 aharikugira hati: “Omuntu weena akore, nk’oku amaririire omu mutima gwe, atarikunyoomwa nari akugyenwa; ahakuba Ruhanga akunda efura.” Abakristaayo ab’amazima nibaha baihire aha mutima, tibarikutegyereza eizooba nanka ngu babone kuha abandi ebiconco, kandi tibarikuha abandi ebiconco ngu nabo baije  babiheebwe. (Luka 14:12-14; shoma Ebyakozirwe 20:35.) Kandi, baine okushemererwa okureeba ngu tibarikwejwanzya mu rwanju orurikubaho omu Noiri n’okureeba ngu nibeerinda amabanja agu baingi barikwereetaho omu bwire bwa Noiri.—Matayo 11:28-30; Yohaana 8:32.

8. Abanyabwengye bakareetera Yesu ebiconco eby’okukuza okuzaarwa kwe? Shoboorora.

⁸ Abamwe nibabaasa kugira ngu kwonka shi abanyabwengye tibarareeteire Yesu ebiconco eby’okukuza okuzaarwa kwe? Ngaaha. Omu bwire obu Baibuli yaabaire neehandiikwa, okuha ebiconco kwabo gukaba guri omuringo gw’okworeka ngu nibaha omuntu mukuru ekitiinisa. (1 Abagabe 10:1, 2, 10, 13; Matayo 2:2, 11) Kandi tibaraizire aha kiro eki Yesu yaazaarirweho. Yesu akaba atakiri mwereere omu kihongore, kureka akaba yaahikize ameezi mingi kandi we n’abazaire be bakaba nibatuura omu nju obu abanyabwengye baahikayo.

9. N’enki ekyabaireho aha kukuza okuzaarwa okurikugambwaho omuri Baibuli?

⁹ N’obu okuzaarwa kw’omwana kuraabe nikureeta okushemererwa, tihariho ahu Baibuli erikugamba aha muheereza wa Ruhanga arikukuza okuzaarwa kwe. (Zaaburi 127:3) Tugire ngu shi enshonga egyo ekeeba? Ngaaha, ahakuba Baibuli neegamba aha kukuza okuzaarwa kw’abantu babiri, okwa Faraho owa Misri n’okwa Heroode Antipasi. (Shoma Okutandika 40:20-22; Mako 6:21-29.) Ebyabaireho aha kukuza okuzaarwa kw’abantu abo bombi ti birungi, na munonga aha kwa Heroode Antipasi, okwarugiiremu Yohaana Omubatizi okutemwaho omutwe.

10, 11. Abakristaayo aba ira bakaba nibatwara bata okukuza okuzaarwa, kandi n’ahabw’enki?

¹⁰ Ekitabo The World Book Encyclopedia, nikigira kiti: “Abakristaayo  aba ira bakaba nibatwara okukuza okuzaarwa kw’omuntu weena nk’omugyenzo gw’ekikaafiire.” Nk’eky’okureeberaho, Abagriika aba ira bakaba nibaikiriza ngu buri muntu aine ekintu ekyabaire kimurinda arikuzaarwa, kandi kikagumizamu kumurinda. Ngu ekintu ekyo “kiine akakwate na ruhanga owaazairwe aha izooba eri omuntu ogwo yaazaariirweho,” nikwo ekitabo The Lore of Birthdays kirikugira. Okumara obwire buraingwa okukuza okuzaarwa kutwire nikukwatanisibwa n’okuraguza enyonyoozi.

¹¹ Abaheereza ba Ruhanga aba ira bakanga emigyenzo y’okukuza okuzaarwa, ti habw’okugira ngu neekomooka omu bukafiire kwonka, beitu nikireebeka bakaihirira n’aha mitindo ei baabaire nibakuratira. Ahabw’enki nitugira tutyo? Bakaba bari abashaija n’abakazi abacureezi, abaabaire batarikutwara okuzaarwa kwabo nk’ekintu kikuru ekishemereire kwijukwa. * (Miika 6:8; Luka 9:48) Kureka, bakaba nibahimbisa Yehova kandi bamwebaza ahabw’ekiconco ky’amagara. *—Zaaburi 8:3, 4; 36:9; Okushuuruurwa 4:11.

12. Eizooba eri turikufeeraho niribaasa kukira rita eri twazaariirweho?

¹² Boona abarikufa bari abeesigwa, Ruhanga naaguma naabaijuka, kandi buzima naija kubazoora. (Yobu 14:14, 15) Omubuurizi 7:1 nihagira hati: “Okugira eiziina rirungi nikikira amajuta g’omugaju ag’obuguzi bwingi; eizooba ery’okufeeraho nirikira ery’okuzaarirwaho.” “Eiziina” ryaitu niyo mitwarize mirungi ei Ruhanga arikutumanyaho ahabw’okumuheereza n’obwesigwa. Ni kikuru kwetegyereza ngu ekiro kyonka eki Abakristaayo barikuragiirwa kukuza, ti ky’okuzaarwa, kureka n’eky’okufa kwa  Yesu, ou “eiziina” rye rirungi riri rikuru omu kujunwa kwaitu.—Abaheburaayo 1:3, 4; Luka 22:17-20.

13, 14. Emigyenzo erikukorwa ahari Paasika neekomooka nkahi?

¹³ Paasika neetwarwa nk’omukoro gw’okukuza okuzooka kwa Kristo, kwonka neekomooka omu diini z’ebishuba. Paasika neekwatanisibwa na Eostre nari Ostara, ruhanga w’omushana n’obwire bw’enjura. Kwonka shi amahuri n’obumi bikaija kukoresibwa bita omuri Paasika? Ekitabo Encyclopædia Britannica nikigira kiti: Amahuri “gatwire nigakoresibwa nk’obumanyiso bw’amagara masya n’okuzooka,” kandi akami katuura nikakoresibwa nk’akamanyiso ka ruzaaro. N’ahabw’ekyo, Paasika buzima n’omugyenzo ogwine akakwate na ruzaaro, ogu baashwekyereire bakeeta ogw’okukuza okuzooka kwa Kristo. *

¹⁴ Mbwenu shi Yehova akaba naabaasa kwikiriza abantu kwijuka okufa kw’Omwana we barikukoresa omugyenzo nk’ogwo ogurikunugwa ahariwe? Tarikubaasa na kakye! (2 Abakorinso 6:17, 18) N’ekindi, Ebyahandiikirwe tibirikuragiira abantu kandi tibirikubaikiriza kwijuka okuzooka kwa Yesu. N’ahabw’ekyo, okwijuka okuzooka kwa Kristo obwo turikukweta Paasika buzima ti kikorwa ky’obwesigwa na kakye.

15. Ekiro kya Halloween kikakomooka nkahi, kandi ahabw’enki nibakuza ekiro eki aha kutandika kw’okwezi Kwaikumi-na-kumwe?

¹⁵ Halloween, ekiro ekirikumanywa ahabw’ebikorwa by’oburogo, hamwe n’okujwara ebintu birikutiinisa, obumwe ekirikwetwa All Hallows’ Eve nari Ekiro ky’Abahikiriire nikikomooka omu bantu ba ira aba Bungyereza na Ireland. Obu okwezi kwabaire kuba kuri ekizooro, okwezi Kwaikumi-na-kumwe kurikutandika,  bakaba bakuza Samhain, ekirikumanyisa “Muheru gw’Ekyanda.” Bakaba nibaikiriza ngu omu bwire bwa Samhain, akantu akarikutaanisa abantu n’ensi ezitarikureebwa kakaba karugaho reero emyoyo emibi n’emirungi, etandika kuzengyerera omu nsi. Bakaba nibaikiriza ngu emizimu y’abantu abaafiire ekaba egaruka, reero ab’omu maka ago bakaba baterekyerera kwakiira emizimu y’abantu abo, baine amatsiko ngu neija kushemererwa. N’ahabw’ekyo, abaana omu obunaku obu ku barikujwara ebirikutiinisa nari nk’abafumu, bakaza omu maka g’abantu kubatiinatiinisa kubakora kubi baaba bataine ki babahaire, nibaba nibashagika emigyenzo ya Samhain.

16, 17. (a) Ahabw’enki Abakristaayo abarikutebeekanisa kutaaha omu bushwere bashemereire kushwijuma emigyenzo erikukorwa aha kugaitwa barikwihirira aha misingye ya Baibuli? (b) Aha bikwatiraine n’emigyenzo nk’egyo, nk’okurekyera ahaiguru omukyeri nari ebiri nk’ebyo, niki eki Abakristaayo bashemereire kuteekateekaho?

¹⁶ Omu bwire butari bwa hare, ‘eiraka rya kishwera n’erya kishwerwa tigarigaruka kuhurirwa omuri Babulooni orurembo Orukuru.’ (Okushuuruurwa 18:23) Ahabw’enki kiri kityo? Enshonga emwe n’ahabw’oburogo bwarwo oburikubaasa kushiisha obushwere kurugira kimwe aha izooba ry’okugaitwa.—Mako 10:6-9.

¹⁷ Emigyenzo neetaana omu nsi zitari zimwe. Emigyenzo emwe neereebeka nk’etari mibi kwonka neekomooka omu madiini g’ebishuba erikuteekateekwaho kureetera ‘emigisha’ abaagaitwa nari abu beetsire aha bugyenyi. (Isaaya 65:11) Omugyenzo gumwe n’okureekyera ahaiguru omukyeri nari ebiri nk’ebyo. Omugyenzo ogu nigubaasa kuba nigukomooka aha nyikiriza y’abarikuteekateeka ngu eby’okurya nibishemeza emyoyo emibi bigizibira kukora kubi abagore. Okumara obwire buraingwa, omukyeri gutwire nigukwatanisibwa n’okukanyisa oruzaaro, okushemererwa, n’obuhangaazi. Buzimazima, weena orikwenda kwerindira omu kukunda kwa Ruhanga ashemereire kwetantara emigyenzo nk’egyo etari mirungi.—Shoma 2 Abakorinso 6:14-18.

18. Ni misingye ki eshemereire kwebembera abarikuza kugaitwa n’abeetsirwe aha bugyenyi?

 ¹⁸ Nikyo kimwe abaheereza ba Yehova nibeetantara ebikorwa by’ensi ebirikubaasa kutahaisa ekitiinisa obugyenyi bw’Abakristaayo obw’okugaitwa nari ebirikubaasa kuteeza abandi entsibo. Nk’eky’okureeberaho, nibeetantara okuha embazo nari kugamba ebirikugwisa kubi nari ebirikwitsa enshoni kandi nibeetantara ebigunjano nari ebigambo ebirikuhemura abaaheza kugaitwa hamwe n’abandi. (Enfumu 26:18, 19; Luka 6:31; 10:27) Nibeetantara kukora obugyenyi obw’esente nyingi ezirengyesereize, obugyendereire ‘kweyoreka n’okwehimbisa.’ (1 Yohaana 2:16) Ku oraabe nootebeekanisa kugira obugyenyi bw’okugaitwa, oteebwa ngu Yehova naayenda ngu waaguma okaijuka eizooba ryawe eryo ery’omutaano, ogume oshemererwe beitu kutari kwefuuza. *

19, 20. Ekitabo kimwe nikigamba ki aha burugo bw’okwereeza amagiraasi, kandi ahabw’enki omugyenzo ogwo gutarikwikirizibwa omu Bakristaayo?

¹⁹ Okwereeza amagiraasi n’ekintu ekirikukira kukorwa aha bugyenyi bw’okugaitwa n’aha mikoro endiijo. Ekitabo International Handbook on Alcohol and Culture ekya 1995 nikigira kiti: “Okwereeza amagiraasi . . . n’omugyenzo gwa ira ogurikukorwa omu bunaku obu, ogwabaire gukorwa abantu, barikutambira baaruhanga baabo eky’okunywa . . . ngu babahe emigisha, barikugira ngu ‘hangaara!’ nari ‘gira amagara marungi!’ ”

²⁰ N’eky’amazima, abantu baingi nibabaasa kutateekateeka ngu okwereeza amagiraasi n’ekikorwa ky’okuramya. Kwonka nabwo, omugyenzo gw’okwereeza amagiraasi ga viinyo nigubaasa kutwarwa nk’okushaba “iguru,” nari amaani agarikukira aha g’abantu, okutunga omugisha omu muringo ogutarikwikirizana n’Ebyahandiikirwe.—Yohaana 14:6; 16:23. *

21. N’obu emikoro yaakuba etaine kakwate n’ediini, ni mikoro ki erikukira kukuzibwa ei Abakristaayo baine kwetantara, kandi n’ahabw’enki?

²¹ Amahanga agamwe garikushagika emitindo y’ensi, buri mwaka nigataho emikoro y’okuziina erikworeka enzina erikuhemurana, obumwe erikukuriiriza emireebekyere y’ebitingwa erikwenegyezibwa Babulooni orurembo Orukuru. Nikiba kihikire ‘orikukunda Yehova’ okuza omu mukoro nk’ogwo nari okugureeba? Yaaguzamu ninga akagureeba, nikiba nikyoreka ngu buzima naayanga ebibi? (Zaaburi 1:1, 2; 97:10) Ka ni kirungi okutooreza omuhandiiki wa zaaburi owaashabire ati: “Ohindure amaisho gangye, garekye kureeba ebitaine mugasho”!—Zaaburi 119:37.

22. Ni ryari obu Omukristaayo arikubaasa kucwamu arikwihirira aha muntu we ow’omunda yaaba ayejumba omu mukoro nari atagwejumbamu?

²² Aha mazooba g’emikoro y’ensi, Omukristaayo aine kwegyendesereza kugira ngu emitwarize ye etareetera abandi kuteekateeka ngu nawe yaayejumba omu mukoro ogwo. Paulo akahandiika ati: “Ku muraabe nimurya nari nimunywa nari nimukora ekintu kyona, mukore byona okuhimbisisa Ruhanga.” (1 Abakorinso 10:31; reeba akabokisi “ Okucwamu Gye.”) Kwonka, omukoro nari omugyenzo gwaba gutaine makuru g’okuramya kw’ebishuba na kakye, gutari gw’eby’obutegyeki, kandi gutarikuhenda misingye ya Baibuli, obwo buri Mukristaayo naabaasa kwecweramu yaaba araagwejumbemu. Ekindi, ashemereire kuteekateeka aha bandi kugira ngu atabateeza entsibo.

23, 24. Nitubaasa kuha tuta obujurizi burungi aha bikwatiraine n’emitindo ya Yehova ehikiriire?

²³ Abantu baingi nibatwara emikoro emwe nk’obwire bukuru bw’okuba hamwe n’ab’omu maka gaabo n’abanywani baabo. N’ahabw’ekyo, omuntu yaateekateeka ngu okucwamu kwaitu kuhamira aha Byahandiikirwe tikurikworeka rukundo,  n’obucureezi nitubaasa kumushoboororera ngu Abajurizi ba Yehova nibakunda kuba hamwe n’ab’omu maka gaabo n’abanywani. (Enfumu 11:25; Omubuurizi 3:12, 13; 2 Abakorinso 9:7) Nitushemererwa kuba hamwe n’abakundwa baitu obwire bwona omu mwaka, kwonka ahabwa rukundo ei twiniire Ruhanga n’emitindo ye ehikiriire, titurikwenda kujwanzya obwire bw’okushemererwa nk’obwo n’emigyenzo erikumugwisa kubi.—Reeba akabokisi “ Okuramya okw’Amazima Nikureeta Okushemererwa Okurikukirayo.”

²⁴ Abajurizi ba Yehova abamwe babaasize kushoboororera gye abarikubabuuza, barikukoresa enshonga eziri omu eshuura 16 ey’akatabo Niki Eki Baibuli Buzima Erikwegyesa? * Ijuka ngu, ekigyendererwa kyaitu n’okuhwera omuntu kukunda okuramya okw’amazima, beitu kutari kuhakana. N’ahabw’ekyo, muhe abandi ekitiinisa, mugume muri abacureezi, kandi “ebigambo byanyu bigume biri eby’embabazi, nk’ebirimu omwonyo.”—Abakolosai 4:6.

25, 26. Abazaire nibabaasa kuhwera bata abaana baabo okugira okwikiriza kuhamire n’okweyongyera kukunda Yehova?

²⁵ Nk’abaheereza ba Yehova, nitwegyesibwa gye. Nitumanya ahabw’enki nitwikiriza kukora ebintu ebimwe kandi tukeetantara ebindi. (Abaheburaayo 5:14) N’ahabw’ekyo, abazaire mwegyese abaana baanyu bamanye kushoboorora gye emisingye ya Baibuli. Mwakora mutyo, nimwija kwombeka okwikiriza kwabo, mubahwere kugarukamu abo abarikubabuuza ebirikukwata aha bi barikwikiriza barikukoresa Ebyahandiikirwe, kandi mubahamize ngu Yehova naabakunda.—Isaaya 48:17, 18; 1 Petero 3:15.

²⁶ Boona abarikuramya Ruhanga “omu mwoyo n’omu mazima” nibetantara emikoro etarikwikirizibwa omu byahandiikirwe kandi nibateeraho kuba abeesigwa omuri buri kintu. (Yohaana 4:3) Abantu baingi omu bunaku obu nibateekateeka ngu okuba omwesigwa tiky’oburyo. Kwonka nk’oku turikuza kureeba omu shuura erikukurataho, emihanda ya Ruhanga butoosha niyo erikukirayo oburungi.