1. Ndi ntundu upi wa anthu wakuti Yahova asaufendedzeresa kwa iye, na thangwi yanji iwo nee asafunika kugona mwauzimu?

YEZU alonga: ‘Anyakulambira andimomwene, anadzalambira Babanga mu nzimu na mu undimomwene, thangwi iyembo Baba asasaka anyakumulambira ninga anewa.’ (Jwau 4:23) Yahova angaagumana anthu anewa ninga mudagumana iye imwe, iye asaafendedzeresa kwa iye na kwa Mwanace. (Jwau 6:44) Ndi cilemedzo tani ceneci! Natenepa, anyakufuna undimomwene wa Bhibhlya, asafunika ‘kudzindikira pyakutawirika pamaso pa Mbuya,’ thangwi Sathani ndi nkadamu wakunyengeta.—Aefesi 5:10; Apokalipse 12:9.

2. Fokotozani maonero a Yahova kwa ale anayesera kubvungaza uphemberi wandimomwene na uphemberi waunthawatawa.

² Nyerezerani pidacitika cifupi na Phiri ya Sinai, padaphemba Aisraele kuti Aroni aacitire mulungu. Pidatawirira Aroni, acita mwanamphulu wa ndalama mbalonga kuti ndiye anafuna kuimirira Yahova. Iye alonga: “Mangwana inadzaoneka phwando ya Mbuya.” Kodi Yahova akhatsalakana kubvungazirika kweneku kwa uphemberi wandimomwene na waunthawatawa? Nkhabe. Na thangwi ya pyenepi Yahova apha 3.000 pya anyakulambira alungu apezi. (Eksodo 32:1-6, 10, 28) Tinapfundzanji kubulukira ku cakucitika ceneci? Khala ife tisafuna kukhala mu ufuni wa Mulungu, tisafunika ‘kuleka kuphata pinthu pidakhondeswa’ pontho tisafunika kukoya mwakukwana undimomwene gopa kuphingidzwa na ntundu onsene wa pyakuipa.—Izaiya 52:11; Ezekyele 44:23; Agalata 5:9.

3, 4. Thangwi yanji tisafunika kuonesesa mwadidi midida ya Bhibhlya pa kudinga misambo na maphwando akudzolowereka?

³ Mwakutsukwalisa, pakumala kufa apostolo, ale akuti akhatsidzikiza Akristu akale gopa kusangizira pipfundziso pya anyakupanduka, adzabwera Akristu aunthawatawa akuti nee akhali na cidziwiso  candimomwene ca Bhibhlya, mbatoma kucita misambo ya anyakukhonda khulupira, maphwando, na mafiriyadu, analonga iwo cincino kuti ndi akutawirika kwa Akristu. (2 Atesalonika 2:7, 10) Ninga musaona m’maphwando anango, nkhabe kupangiza nzimu wa Mulungu mbwenye nzimu wa dziko. Tingafuna kulonga konsene kwene, maphwando a dziko ali na n’khaliro ubodzi ene: Iwo asapangiza pilepelepe pyaunyama, na asakulumiza pikhulupiro pya uphemberi waunthawatawa na kukhulupira mizimu, cidzindikiro ca “Babilonya wankulu.” * (Apokalipse 18:2-4, 23) Kumbukani pontho kuti Yahova akhaona mabasa akunyanyasa akhacita uphemberi wa anyakukhonda khulupira mule mudabuluka misambo mizinji yakudzolowereka. Mwakukhonda penula, iye akuona maphwando anewa ninga akunyanyasambo lero. Kodi maonero a Yahova, siwo akhafunikambo kukhala maonero athu tayu?—2 Jwau 6, 7.

⁴ Ninga Akristu andimomwene, tisadziwa kuti maphwando anango nkhabe kukomeresa Yahova. Mbwenye tisafunika kutonga muntima mwathu toera tikhonde kucita khundu m’maphwando anewa. Kukumbuka kuti thangwi yanji Yahova nkhabe kukomerwa na maphwando anewa, kunadzawangisa kutonga kwathu toera kukhonda cinthu consene cakuti cinaticimwanisa kupitiriza kukhala mu ufuni wa Mulungu.

5. Thangwi yanji tiri na cinyindiro cakuti Yezu hadabalwa pa ntsiku 25 za nthanda ya Maindza tayu?

⁵ Bhibhlya hidatculula tayu phwando ya ntsiku yakubalwa kwa Yezu. Na thangwi ineyi, ntsiku yandimomwene idabalwa iye nkhabe dziwika. Ngakhale tenepa, tinakwanisa kukhala na cinyindiro cakuti iye hadabalwa tayu mu ntsiku 25 za nthanda ya Maindza mu ndzidzi wakutonthola kukhundu ineyi ya dziko yapantsi. * Thangwi inango inatipasa cinyindiro ca pyenepi ndi yakuti  Luka alemba pya mu ndzidzi udabalwa Yezu kuti, “akumbizi akhakumbiza kudambo na masiku [mbaonera] mikumbi yawo.” (Luka 2:8-11) Khala ‘kukumbiza kudambo’ kukhali nsambo wawo pyaka pyonsene, nee mbipidakhala pinthu pyakudzindikirika tayu. Natenepa, na thangwi yakuti nzinda wa Betlehemu mu ndzidzi wakutonthola mulungu asabvumba na matalala peno nkhungu, mikumbi ya mabira ikhaikhwa pakukhumba na akumbizi nee ‘mbadakhala kudambo’ tayu. Mwakuthimizira, Zuze na Mariya akhadaenda ku Betlehemu thangwi Sezari Augustu akhadatonga kuti anthu alemberwe. (Luka 2:1-7) Ndi pyakupenulika kuti Sezari atonga anthu akukhonda komerwa na utongi wa Roma kuti acite ulendo wakuenda ku mbuto zidabalwa makholo awo mu ndzidzi wakutonthola.

6, 7. (a) Kodi misambo ya Makhisimisi yabuluka kupi? (b) Ndi kusiyana kupi kunaoneka pakati pakupasa kunacitwa pa Khisimisi na kupasa Kwacikristu?

⁶ Matomero a Khisimisi nkhabe gumanika m’Malemba, mbwenye m’maphwando akale a anthu akukhonda khulupira, ninga Saturnalia Waciroma, phwando ya Saturno, mulungu wa ulimi. Munjira ibodzi ene, mwakubverana na malengesero awo, alambiri a mulungu Mitra akhacita phwando pa ntsiku 25 za nthanda ya Maindza ninga “ntsiku yakubalwa kwa dzuwa yakukhonda kukundika,” yalonga New Catholic Encyclopedia. “Khisimisi yatoma mu ndzidzi ukhalambirwa dzuwa kazinji kene mu Roma,” kupita pyaka madzana matatu Kristu mbadamala kale kufa.

⁷ Mu ndzidzi wa maphwando awo, anthu akukhonda khulupira asacinjisana miyoni na asacita maphwando. Macitiro anewa asapitiriza kucitwa m’makhisimisi a cincino. Sawasawa lero, miyoni izinji inapasa anthu mu ndzidzi wa Khisimisi nkhabe kuperekwa mwakubverana na 2 Akorinto 9:7, panalonga tenepa: ‘Munthu munthu apase ninga mudapifunira iye muntima mwace, mbakhonda kuipirwa, mbakhonda kukakamizwa thangwi munthu anapasa mbakomerwa napyo, Mulungu ananfuna.’ Akristu andimomwene asapasa na kufuna, iwo nkhabe kakamizika kupasa miyoni mu ntsiku zakupambulika basi tayu, pontho iwo nkhabe kudikhira kubwerezerwa. (Luka 14:12-14; lerini Machitiro 20:35.) Mwakuthimizira, iwo asapereka takhuta wankulu thangwi  yakukhonda cita khundu m’maphwando a Khisimisi na kukhonda kukwata mangawa makulu akuti azinji asaakwata mu ndzidzi unoyu wa caka.—Mateo 11:28-30; Jwau 8:32.

8. Kodi anyakupfundza pyakudzulu apereka miyoni pa ntsiku yakubalwa kwa Yezu? Fokotozani.

⁸ Mbwenye, anango anakwanisa kupokanya mbalonga, kodi anyakupfundza pyakudzulu hadapereka miyoni pa ntsiku yakubalwa kwa Yezu tayu? Nkhabe. Miyoni idapereka iwo ikhali basi ene cilemedzo kwa munthu wakufunika kakamwe, Yezu, pontho ukhali nsambo wakudzolowereka kakamwe m’midzidzi ya Bhibhlya. (1 Amambo 10:1, 2, 10, 13; Mateo 2:2, 11) Mwandimomwene, iwo hadabwera na masiku mu ntsiku idabalwa Yezu tayu. Pidabwera iwo Yezu nee akhali khombwani mbagoneswa m’mwadiya mwakudyera pifuyo tayu, mbwenye akhali wathunga kupita nthanda zizinji na akhali panyumba.

9. Ninji pidacitika pa maphwando a ntsiku zakubalwa adalongwa m’Bhibhlya?

⁹ Maseze kubalwa kwa mwana kusabweresa kutsandzaya kakamwe, Bhibhlya hidatculula tayu phwando ya ntsiku yakubalwa kwa ntumiki wa Mulungu. (Masalmo 127:3, 4) Kodi pyenepi pisabveka kuti aphonya peno adodomeka? Nkhabe, Bhibhlya isalonga maphwando mawiri basi a ntsiku ya kubalwa kwa Farao wa ku Ejito na kubalwa kwa Herode Antipas. (Lerini Genesi 40:20-22; Marko 6:21-29.) Maphwando anewa mawiri, apangizwa munjira yakuipa makamaka yaciwiri, padagwandwa nsolo wa Jwau M’batizi.

10, 11. Akristu akutoma akhaona tani maphwando a ntsiku zakubalwa na thangwi yanji?

¹⁰ The World Book Encyclopedia yalonga pinthu pyakukhonda duwalika: ‘Akristu akale akhaona phwando yakubalwa kwa munthu  onsene kukhala nsambo wa uphemberi waunthawatawa.’ Mwacitsandzo, Agrego akale akhakhulupira kuti munthu m’bodzi na m’bodzi ali na nzimu wakumutsidzikiza wakuti usakhala pa ntsiku yakubalwa mbumuonera. Bukhu yakuti A Doutrina dos Aniversários Natalícios (Pipfundziso pya Maphwando a Ntsiku Zakubalwa) yalonga kuti nzimu unoyu “uli na masalapita akubverana na mulungu wa ntsiku yakubalwa kwa munthu.” Pontho ntsiku zakubalwa kazinji kene ndi zakuphatana na cipfundziso cakukhulupira nyenyezi.

¹¹ Kusiyapo kukhonda misambo ya ntsiku yakubalwa thangwi yakuti yabulukira kwa anthu akukhonda khulupira na ku mizimu yakuipa, atumiki a Mulungu akale akhakhonda misambo ineyi thangwi ya midida yawo yadidi ya makhaliro. Thangwi yanji? Anewa akhali amuna na akazi akucepeseka, akuti hadatsalakana tayu ntsiku zawo zakubalwa kukhala zakufunika kakamwe toera kucita phwando. * (Mikeya 6:8; Luka 9:48) Mbuto mwa pyenepi, iwo akhalemedza Yahova na akhapereka takhuta kuna iye thangwi ya muoni wakufunika kakamwe wa umaso. *—Masalmo 8:3, 4; 36:9; Apokalipse 4:11.

12. Ntsiku ya kufa kwathu inakhala tani yadidi kupita ntsiku yakubalwa kwathu?

¹² Ale onsene adafa mwakukhulupirika akoyiwa m’manyerezero mwa Mulungu, pontho anadzalamuswa muli akufa. (Yobe 14:14, 15) Koelete 7:1 isalonga: “Mphyadidi kupaswa mbiri [peno dzina yadidi] kupita kudzodzwa mafuta akununkhira; ntsiku ya kufa kwathu njadidi kupita ntsiku yakubalwa kwathu.” “Kupaswa mbiri [peno dzina yadidi]” ndi n’khaliro wadidi udawina ife kwa Mulungu kubulukira ku basa yakukhulupirika. Ndi pyakufunika kakamwe kudziwa kuti cikumbuso cibodzi basi cidatongwa Akristu kucita nkhabe kuphataniza ntsiku yakubalwa, mbwenye ya kufa  kwa Yezu, wakuti “mbiri [peno dzina yadidi]” yace ndi fungulo ya cipulumuso cathu.—Ahebere 1:3, 4; Luka 22:17-20.

13, 14. Kodi misambo yakudzolowereka ya Paskwa yatomera kupi?

¹³ Maseze Paskwa isalongwa ninga phwando yakulamuswa muli akufa kwa Yezu, mwandimomwene yatomera mu uphemberi waunthawatawa. Dzina yakuti Paskwa mwa iyo yokha iri yakuphatana na Easter, peno Eostre, mulungu wankazi wa ceza na wa malimwe wa Anglo-Saxão. Kodi mazai na masulo adzakhala tani akuphatisirwa pa Paskwa? Encyclopædia Britannica yalonga kuti mazai “asaoneka ninga ndi cidzindikiro ca umaso upswa na kulamuka muli akufa, pontho sulo kutomera kalene akhaphatisirwa ninga cidzindikiro ca mataka a ndimo. Natenepa, Paskwa ndi mwambo wa mataka a ndimo tayu kulamuka muli akufa kwa Kristu. *

¹⁴ Kodi Yahova mbadatawirisa kuphatisirwa kwa mwambo wa mataka a ndimo toera kucita cikumbuso cakulamuka muli akufa kwa Mwanace? Cipo! (2 Akorinto 6:17, 18) Na thangwi ineyi, Malemba nkhabe kutonga nee kutawirisa kucita cikumbuso cakulamuka muli akufa kwa Yezu. Kucita pyenepi mu dzina ya Paskwa ndi kukhonda kubvera Mulungu.

15. Kodi Halloween yatomera kupi, na ninji pisacitika pa ntsiku idasankhulwa toera kucita phwando ya firiyadu ineyi?

¹⁵ Halloween isadziwika na ufiti, mizimu yakuipa, pinthu pyakugopswa na pinango pyakusiyana-siyana. Iyo yatomera kwa anthu akale a ku Britanya na Irlanda anadziwika ninga Celtas. Mu ndzidzi unakhala mwezi kucidima cifupi na ntsiku 1 ya nthanda ya Bingu, iwo asacita phwando ya Samhain, pinabveka “Kumala kwa Malimwe.” Iwo asakhulupira kuti mu ndzidzi wa phwando ya  Samhain, isafungulwa mphambvu ya mizimu yadidi na yakuipa, mbifamba-famba pa dziko yapantsi. Iwo asakhulupira kuti miyoyo ya anthu adamala kufa yabwerera m’mamidzi mwawo, na acibale awo asafunika kuikha cakudya na pyakumwa kwa afiti awo adabwera na cinyindiro ca kuabalangaza. Natenepa, lero anapiana angabvala ninga piphoko peno afiti, mbaenda nyumba na nyumba na kuthusa anaciro zinyumba mbanyengeta kuti anaaonesa nyatwa angakhonda tsalakanwa mwadidi, iwo mwakukhonda dziwa asapitiriza kukoya misambo ya Samhain.

16, 17. (a) Thangwi yanji mphyakufunika kuti Akristu anafuna kumanga banja adinge misambo ya pacisa mwakubverana na midida ya Bhibhlya? (b) Pakulonga pya nsambo wakuwaza mpunga ndzulu peno pinthu pinango, kodi Akristu asafunika kudinganji?

¹⁶ Mwakukhonda dembuka, ‘fala ya mankhadzi wa mamuna na wa nkazi inadzabvekabve pontho tayu m’Babilonya Wankulu.’ (Apokalipse 18:23) Thangwi yanji? Cakutoma ndi thangwi ya macitiro ace a pyauzimu, akuti anakwanisa kufudza banja kutomera ntsiku yakumanga banja.—Marko 10:6-9.

¹⁷ Misambo ndi yakusiyana dziko na dziko. Misambo inango inaoneka ninga yadidi panango yabulukira m’macitiro a Babilonya akuti asanyerezerwa kuti asabweresa ‘ncena’ kwa banja ya amankhadzi peno kwa alendo. (Izaiya 65:11) Nsambo ubodzi usaphataniza kuwaza mpunga ndzulu peno pinthu pinango pyakuti pinakwaniswa kuwazwa munjira ibodzi ene. Ncitiro unoyu panango wabulukira mu cikhulupiro cakuti pyakudya pisabalangaza mizimu yakuipa na pisacitisa kuti iyo ikhonde phekesa mankhadzi wamamuna na wankazi. Mwakuthimizira, mpunga wakhala ukuphatisirwa kutomera kale mu pyauzimu mwakubverana na mataka a ndimo, kutsandzaya, na ntsiku zakuinjipa za umaso. Mwapakweca, onsene anafuna kupitiriza mu ufuni wa Mulungu anadzakhonda misambo ineyi yakuphekesa.—Lerini 2 Akorinto 6:14-18.

18. Ndi midida ipi ya Bhibhlya isafunika kutsogolera anyakufuna kumanga banja na anyakucemerwa pa phwando?

¹⁸ Munjira ibodzi ene atumiki a Yahova asakhonda macitiro a  dziko akuti anacimwanisa kumanga banja na cilemedzo ca maphwando Acikristu peno kupindisa cikumbuntima ca anango. Mwacitsandzo, iwo asakhonda kusingirira, malongero akuphekesa, akupita m’mabonde peno pinthu pyakukhonda duwalika pyakuti pinapindisa anyakumanga kwene banja na anango. (Misangani 26:18, 19; Luka 6:31; 10:27) Pontho iwo asacalira maphwando akumanga banja akuti bwerani mudzaone anapangiza “kugaya kwa moyo,” tayu kucepeseka. (1 Jwau 2:16) Khala imwe mukunyerezera phwando yakumanga banja, lekani kuduwala kuti Yahova asafuna kuti ntsiku yanu yakufunika ikhale cinthu cakuti mungayang’ana nduli mukumbuke ntsiku ineyi na kutsandzaya, tayu na kutsukwala. *

19, 20. Kodi bukhu ibodzi ya kudziko yalonga tani thangwi ya matomero a kukhuisana makopo, na ndi thangwi yanji nsambo unoyu ndi wakukhonda tawirika kwa Akristu?

¹⁹ Nsambo wakukhuyisana makopo [Brinde] usacitwa kazinji kene m’maphwando a anyakumanga banja na m’misonkhano ya ubalangazi. Bukhu ya mu 1995 yakuti International Handbook on Alcohol and Culture (Citsogolero ca Madziko Onsene mu Pyakumwa Pyakuledzeresa na Uunthu) yalonga: “Kukhuisana makopo . . . panango ndi nsambo wa kudziko udasala pa ntsembe zakale za pyakumwa pyakuledzeresa pyakuti pikhaperekwa kwa alungu . . . mu kucinjisana na cifuno, phembero m’mafala acigwagwa akuti ‘umaso wakulapha!’ peno ‘ungumi wadidi’.”

²⁰ Mwandimomwene, anthu azinji panango mwakukhonda dziwa asaona kukhuisana makopo ninga si pyauphemberi tayu peno si pyamalodza tayu. Ngakhale tenepa, nsambo wakuthukula ndzulu makopo a pyakumwa pyakuledzeresa unakwanisa kuoniwa ninga kuphemba “kudzulu” mphambvu yakupiringana munthu toera kuapasa nkhombo munjira yakukhonda bverana na pidalembwa m’Malemba.—Jwau 14:6; 16:23. *

21. Maseze nee pisaphataniza pikhulupiro pya mauphemberi, kodi ndi maphwando api akudzolowereka akuti Akristu asafunika kuacalira, na thangwi yanji?

²¹ Babilonya Wankulu asapangiza mwakuoneka na mwakukhonda kuoneka makhaliro a dziko lero. Madziko anango asaphedzera karnaval pa caka, maphwando akuti asapangiza mabvaliro aulukwali ngakhale kutsandzaya na makhaliro a kupita m’mabonde kwa amuna na amuna na kwa akazi na akazi. Kodi ndi pyakuthema kwa ‘anyakufuna Yahova’ kuti agumanike peno kuona pyenepi? Kodi Nkristu angacita pyenepi, asapangiza mwandimomwene kuti asaida pyakuipa? (Masalmo 1:1, 2; 97:10, NM) Ndi pyadidi tani kusangizira n’khaliro wa nyamasalmo adaphembera tenepa: “Thawisani maso anga pa pinthu pyapezi”!—Masalmo 119:37.

22. Ndi lini Nkristu asafunika kucita cisankhulo mwakubverana na cikumbuntima cace khala anadzacita khundu mu phwando peno nkhabe?

²² Mu ntsiku za maphwando a dziko, Nkristu asafunika kucita mphole-mphole na makhaliro ace toera akhonde kupangiza kwa anango kuti akucita nanthu phwando. Paulu alemba: “Mphapo, pa kudya, pa kumwa, na pa kuphata mabasa anu onsene musimbe Mulungu.” (1 Akorinto 10:31 onani bokosi “ Sankhulani Mwandzeru.”) Kukhundu inango, khala nsambo peno phwando yakuti mwapakweca nkhabe kukoya mabvekero a pinthu pya uphemberi waunthawatawa, nkhabe kucita khundu m’maserimonya a ndale peno a dziko, nkhabe kuswa midida ya Bhibhlya, tenepa Nkristu m’bodzi na m’bodzi asafunika kucita cisankhulo cace ekha khala anacita khundu mu pyenepi peno nkhabe. Mu ndzidzi ubodzi ene, iye asafunika kudinga mabvero a anthu anango mu pinthu pyenepi toera akhonde kuagwegwedusa.

23, 24. Tinapereka tani umboni wadidi mwakubverana na midida yakulungama ya Yahova?

²³ Anthu azinji asaona ntsiku za maphwando anango akudzolowereka ninga mwai toera kugumanyikana na banja pabodzi na axamwali. Natenepa, khala munthu asanyerezera mwakudodoma  kuti makhaliro athu akubverana na Malemba ndi kusowa ufuni peno akutekera, ife tinanfokotozera mwadidi kuti Mboni za Yahova zisalemedza kugumanyikana kwadidi kwa banja pabodzi na kwa axamwali. (Misangani 11:25; Koelete 3:12, 13; 2 Akorinto 9:7) Tisatsandzaya na ubale wa anthu anafuna ife caka consene mbwenye na thangwi yakufuna kwathu Mulungu na midida yace yakulungama, ife nkhabe kufuna kuphingidza ndzidzi unoyu wakutsandzayisa na misambo yakuti isampindisa.—Onani bokosi “ Ulambiri Wandimomwene Usabweresa Kutsandzaya Kukulu.”

²⁴ Mboni zinango zisapembera mwadidi mu kumwaza ntsonga zakufunika zakulinganira zakubuluswa m’bukhu Kodi Mwandimomwene Bhibhlya Isapfundzisanji? pa nsolo 16. * Natenepa, kumbukani kuti cifuno cathu ndi kucitisa kuti munthu abwere mu ulambiri wandimomwene, tayu kumpangiza kuti iye ndi wakudawa. Na thangwi ineyi, khalani wakulemedzeka, pitirizani kukhala wakupfulika, na “mafala anu adzipe ninga munyu ntsiku zonsene.”—Akolose 4:6.

25, 26. Anyakubala anaphedza tani anawo toera kukula mu cikhulupiro pabodzi na mu ufuni wa Yahova?

²⁵ Ninga Atumiki a Yahova tisapfundziswa mwadidi. Tisadziwa thangwi yanji tisatawira na kucita pinthu pinango na kukhonda pinango. (Ahebere 5:14) Natenepa, anyakubala, pfundzisani ananu kuti anyerezere midida ya m’Bhibhlya. Mungacita tenepa, mukuawangisa cikhulupiro cawo, mukuaphedza kuti atawire mwakubverana na Malemba kwa ale anapokanya pikhulupiro pyawo, na mukuapasa cinyindiro ca ufuni wa Yahova.—Izaiya 48:17, 18; 1 Pedro 3:15.

²⁶ Onsene analambira Mulungu ‘mu nzimu na mu undimomwene’ nee asacalira basi maphwando akukhonda bverana na malemba, mbwenyembo asawangisira toera kukhala akukhulupirika m’makhundu onsene a umaso. (Jwau 4:23) Lero, azinji asaona kuti kukhala wakukhulupirika ndi pinthu pyakale. Tenepa tinadzaona mu nsolo unatowera kuti njira za Mulungu ndzidzi onsene ndi zadidi.