AmaKristu Nomphakathi Wesintu Namuhla
AmaKristu Nomphakathi Wesintu Namuhla
“Niyakuzondwa yizizwe zonke ngenxa yegama lami.”—MATHEWU 24:9.
1. Yini okwakumelwe ibe uphawu oluhlukanisayo lobuKristu?
UKWEHLUKA ezweni kwakuwuphawu oluhlukanisayo lwamaKristu okuqala. Lapho ethandaza kuYise wasezulwini, uJehova, uKristu wathi ngabafundi bakhe: “Mina ngibanikile izwi lakho; izwe labazonda‚ ngokuba bengesibo abezwe‚ njengalokhu nami angisiye owezwe.” (Johane 17:14) Lapho ephambi kukaPontiyu Pilatu, uJesu wathi: “Umbuso wami awusiwo owalelizwe.” (Johane 18:36) Ukwehluka kobuKristu bokuqala ezweni kufakazelwa imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki nayizazi-mlando.
2. (a) Ingabe kwakuyomelwe kube khona ushintsho ebuhlotsheni obabuphakathi kwabalandeli bakaJesu nezwe njengoba isikhathi sasihamba? (b) Ingabe uMbuso kaJesu wawuyofika ngokuguqulwa kwezizwe?
2 Ingabe uJesu kamuva wambula ukuthi kwakuyoba noshintsho ebuhlotsheni obuphakathi kwabalandeli bakhe nezwe nokuthi uMbuso wakhe wawuyofika ngokuguqulelwa kwezwe ebuKristwini? Cha. Ngemva kokufa kukaJesu akukho lutho abalandeli bakhe abaphefumlelwa ukuba bakulobe okwasikisela ngisho nento enjalo. (Jakobe 4:4 [owalotshwa ngaphambi nje kuka-62 C.E.]; 1 Johane 2:15-17; 5:19 [owalotshwa cishe ngo-98 C.E.]) Ngokuphambene, “ukuba-khona” kukaJesu ‘nokuza’ kwakhe emandleni oMbuso okulandelayo, iBhayibheli likuhlanganisa ‘nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto,’ esifinyelela umvuthwandaba waso ‘ekupheleni,’ noma ekubhujisweni kwaso. (Mathewu 24:3, 14, 29, 30, NW; Daniyeli 2:44; 7:13, 14) Esibonakalisweni uJesu asinikeza nge-pa·rou·siʹa, noma ukuba-khona kwakhe, wathi ngabalandeli bakhe beqiniso: “Lapho-ke bayakunikhaphela osizini‚ banibulale; niyakuzondwa yizizwe zonke ngenxa yegama lami.”—Mathewu 24:9.
AmaKristu Eqiniso Namuhla
3, 4. (a) I-encyclopedia yamaKatolika iwachaza kanjani amaKristu okuqala? (b) OFakazi BakaJehova namaKristu okuqala bachazwa ngaziphi izindlela ezifanayo?
3 Yiliphi iqembu lenkolo namuhla eliye lazizuzela idumela lokwethembeka ezimisweni zobuKristu nokwehluka kulelizwe, amalungu alo azondwayo futhi ashushiswayo? Nokho iyiphi inhlangano yobuKristu yomhlaba wonke efanelana ngazo zonke izici nokuchazwa okungokomlando kwamaKristu okuqala? Ngokuqondene nawo, i-New Catholic Encyclopedia ithi: “Umphakathi wamaKristu okuqala, nakuba ekuqaleni wawubhekwa njengelinye nje ihlelo emphakathini wamaJuda, wazibonakalisa uhlukile emfundisweni yawo yenkolo, futhi ikakhulukazi entshisekweni yamalungu awo, ayekhonza njengofakazi bakaKristu ‘kulo lonke iJudiya neSamariya ngisho nasekugcineni komhlaba’ (IzEnzo 1.8).”—Umqulu 3, ikhasi 694.
4 Phawula amazwi athi “wawubhekwa njengelinye nje ihlelo,” “uhlukile emfundisweni yawo,” “entshisekweni . . . njengofakazi.” Futhi manje phawula indlela yona le-encyclopedia echaza ngayo oFakazi BakaJehova: “Ihlelo . . . OFakazi bakholelwa ngokujulile ukuthi ukuphela kwezwe kuyofika phakathi neminyaka embalwa kakhulu. Lenkolelo ecacile ibonakala ingamandla ashukumisayo amakhulu kakhulu abangela ukuba kwabo nentshiseko engapheli. . . . Isibopho esiyinhloko selungu ngalinye lalelihlelo siwukunikeza ubufakazi ngoJehova ngokumemezela uMbuso waKhe osondelayo. . . . Babheka iBhayibheli njengeliwukuphela komthombo wabo wenkolelo nomthetho wokuziphatha . . . Ukuze umuntu abe uFakazi weqiniso kumelwe ngandlela-thile ashumayele ngokuphumelelayo.”—Umqulu 7, amakhasi 864-5.
5. (a) Izimfundiso zoFakazi BakaJehova zihluke ngaziphi izici? (b) Nikeza izibonelo ezibonisa ukuthi izinkolelo zoFakazi BakaJehova ziyavumelana nemiBhalo.
5 Izimfundiso zoFakazi BakaJehova zihluke ngaziphi izici? Le-New Catholic Encyclopedia iphawula ezimbalwa: “[OFakazi BakaJehova] balahla uZiqu-zintathu njengokuwukukhonza izithombe kobuqaba . . . Babheka uJesu njengoFakazi kaJehova omkhulu kunabo bonke, ‘unkulunkulu’ (ngendlela abahumusha ngayo uJohane 1.1), omkhulu kunabo bonke ngaphandle kukaJehova. . . . Wafa njengomuntu futhi wavuswa njengeNdodana yomoya engenakufa. UKuhlupheka nokufa kwakhe kwakuyinani alikhokha ukuze aphinde azuzele isintu ilungelo lokuphila emhlabeni phakade. Ngempela, ‘isixuku esikhulu’ (IsAm 7.9) soFakazi beqiniso sinethemba lokuphila ePharadesi lasemhlabeni; abathembekile abangu-144 000 kuphela (IsAm 7.4; 14.1, 4) abangajabulela inkazimulo yasezulwini noKristu. Ababi bayobhujiswa ngokuphelele. . . . Ubhapathizo—oFakazi abalwenza ngokucwilisa . . . [luwuphawu] lwangaphandle lokuzinikezela kwabo ekukhonzeni uJehova uNkulunkulu. . . . OFakazi BakaJehova baye bazenza baqashelwa emphakathini ngokwenqaba ukumpontshelwa igazi . . . Ukuziphatha kwabo emshadweni nangokobulili akuyekethisi.” OFakazi BakaJehova bangase babe ngabehlukile kulezizici, kodwa ukuma kwabo kuwo wonke lamaphuzu kusekelwe ngokuqinile eBhayibhelini.—IHubo 37:29; Mathewu 3:16; 6:10; IzEnzo 15:28, 29; Roma 6:23; 1 Korinte 6:9, 10; 8:6; IsAmbulo 1:5.
6. Yikuphi ukuma oFakazi BakaJehova abaye bakulondoloza? Ngani?
6 Lencwadi yamaRoma Katolika inezela ukuthi ngo-1965 (ngokusobala okuwunyaka lendaba eyabhalwa ngawo) “oFakazi babengakakucabangeli ukuthi bayingxenye yomphakathi ababephila kuwo.” Ngokusobala kubonakala sengathi umlobi wayecabanga ukuthi njengoba isikhathi siqhubeka futhi oFakazi BakaJehova banda ngokwengeziwe futhi “beya bemukela izici zesonto njengoba lingafani nehlelo,” babeyoba ingxenye yalelizwe. Kodwa lokho akuzange kube njalo. Namuhla, njengoba kunoFakazi abangaphezu kokuphindwe kane kunango-1965, oFakazi BakaJehova baye balondoloza ngokungaguquki ukuma kwabo ngokuqondene nalelizwe. “Abasibo abezwe,” njengoba noJesu ‘wayengesiye owezwe.’—Johane 17:16.
Bahlukile Kodwa Abanabutha
7, 8. Njengoba kwakunjalo ngamaKristu okuqala, yini oFakazi BakaJehova abaziwa ngayo namuhla?
7 Ecaphuna amazwi okuvikela amaKristu okuqala ashiwo umvikeli wokholo wekhulu lesibili uJustin Martyr, uRobert M. Grant wabhala encwadini yakhe ethi Early Christianity and Society: “Uma amaKristu ayengamavukela-mbuso ayeyohlala ecashile ukuze afinyelele umgomo wawo. . . . Angabangane abakhulu bombusi endabeni yokuthula nokuhleleka okuhle.” Ngokufanayo, oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla baziwa kuwo wonke umhlaba ngokuthi bayizakhamuzi ezithanda ukuthula nezihlelekile. Ohulumeni, banoma yiluphi uhlobo, bayazi ukuthi akukho lutho abangalwesaba koFakazi BakaJehova.
8 Umlobi wezinhlu zabahleli waseNyakatho Melika wabhala: “Kudinga umcabango wenzondo engokwenkolo nowobuhlanya ukuba ukholelwe ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babangela noma yiluphi uhlobo losongo kunoma yimuphi umbuso wezombangazwe; abazami ukuketula uhulumeni futhi bathanda ukuthula njengoba iqembu lenkolo lingaba njalo.” Encwadini yakhe ethi L’objection de conscience (Ukwenqaba Ngenxa Yokulawulwa Unembeza), uJean-Pierre Cattelain uyabhala: “OFakazi bazithoba ngokuphelele emagunyeni futhi ngokuvamile balalela imithetho; bayazikhokha izintela zabo futhi abafuni ukuphikisa, ukushintsha, noma ukubhubhisa ohulumeni, ngoba abazikhathazi ngezindaba zalelizwe.” UCattelain uyaqhubeka enezela ukuthi kulapho kuphela uMbuso ufuna ukuphila kwabo, abaye bakunikezela kuNkulunkulu ngokugcwele, lapho oFakazi BakaJehova benqaba khona ukulalela. Kulokhu balingisa ngokuseduze amaKristu okuqala.—Marku 12:17; IzEnzo 5:29.
Ayeqondwa Kabi Yizigaba Ezibusayo
9. Ngokuqondene nokwehluka ezweni, yimuphi umehluko ophawulekayo okhona phakathi kwamaKristu okuqala namaKatolika osuku lwanamuhla?
9 Abaningi bababusi baseRoma babewaqonda kabi amaKristu okuqala futhi bewashushisa. Ibonisa ukuthi kungani, i-Epistle to Diognetus, abanye abacabanga ukuthi eyangekhulu lesibili C.E., ithi: “AmaKristu ahlala ezweni, kodwa awayona ingxenye yezwe.” Ngakolunye uhlangothi, i-Second Vatican Council, eMfundisweni yayo Engenakuphikiswa YoMthetho-sisekelo Wesonto, yathi amaKatolika kumelwe “afune umbuso kaNkulunkulu ngokuhileleka ezindabeni zezwe” futhi “asebenzele ukungcweliswa kwezwe kusukela ngaphakathi.”
10. (a) Izigaba ezibusayo zaziwabheka kanjani amaKristu okuqala? (b) Ngokuvamile babhekwa kanjani oFakazi BakaJehova, futhi basabela kanjani?
10 Isazi-mlando u-E. G. Hardy sithi ababusi baseRoma babebheka amaKristu okuqala ‘njengezishisekeli ezidelelekile ngezinga elithile.’ Isazi-mlando saseFrance u-Étienne Trocmé sikhuluma “ngendelelo amaGreki aphucukile nezikhulu zaseRoma abaphatha ngayo lokho ababekubheka njengehlelo laseMpumalanga elingavamile [amaKristu].” Ukubhalelana okwakuphakathi kukaPliny Omncane, umbusi waseBithiniya ongumRoma, noMbusi uTrajan kubonisa ukuthi izigaba ezibusayo ngokuvamile zazingazi lutho ngesimo sangempela sobuKristu. Ngokufanayo namuhla, oFakazi BakaJehova ngokuvamile baqondwa kabi futhi baze ngisho badelelwe izigaba zezwe ezibusayo. Nokho, lokhu akubamangalisi futhi akubaqedi amandla oFakazi.—IzEnzo 4:13; 1 Petru 4:12, 13.
“Liyaphikiswa Ezindaweni Zonke”
11. (a) Yiziphi izinto ezashiwo ngokuqondene namaKristu okuqala, futhi yini eye yashiwo ngokuqondene noFakazi BakaJehova? (b) Kungani oFakazi BakaJehova bengahlanganyeli kwezombangazwe?
11 Ngokuqondene namaKristu okuqala kwathiwa: “Siyazi ngalelihlelo ukuthi liyaphikiswa ezindaweni zonke.” (IzEnzo 28:22) Ekhulwini lesibili C.E., iqaba elinguCelsus lathi ubuKristu babukhanga isigaba esiphansi kuphela somphakathi wesintu. Ngokufanayo nangoFakazi BakaJehova kuye kwathiwa “ingxenye enkulu yabo, ivela kubantu abampofu emphakathini wethu.” Isazi-mlando sesonto u-Augustus Neander sabika ukuthi “amaKristu ayemelelwa njengabantu abafile ezweni, futhi engenalusizo kuzo zonke izici zokuphila; . . . futhi kwabuzwa ukuthi, ukuphila kwakuyoba namsebenzi muni, uma bonke babenjengawo?” Ngenxa yokuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bayakugwema ukuhlanganyela kwezombangazwe, nabo ngokuvamile babekwa icala lokuba umlotha nje emphakathini wesintu. Kodwa bangaba kanjani yizishisekeli zezombangazwe futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo babe abameleli boMbuso kaNkulunkulu njengowukuphela kwethemba lesintu? OFakazi BakaJehova bawathatha ngokungathi sína amazwi omphostoli uPawulu: “Hlanganyela ekuhluphekeni njengesosha elihle likaKristu Jesu. Alikho isosha elisempini elihileleka eminakweni yabangekho empini, njengoba umgomo walo uwukwanelisa lowo olibhalisile.”—2 Thimothewu 2:3, 4, Revised Standard Version, uHlelo LweNhlangano Emelela AmaSonto.
12. Kukusiphi isici esibalulekile sokwehluka oFakazi BakaJehova abalingisa kuso amaKristu okuqala?
12 Encwadini yakhe ethi A History of Christianity, uProfesa K. S. Latourette uyabhala: “Enye yezindaba amaKristu okuqala ayengavumelani ngazo nezwe lamaGreki namaRoma kwakuwukuhlanganyela empini. Emakhulwini amathathu eminyaka okuqala awukho umbhalo wamaKristu oye wasinda kwaze kwaba sesikhathini sethu owawuthethelela ukuhlanganyela kwamaKristu empini.” Incwadi ka-Edward Gibbon ethi The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire ithi: “Kwakungenakwenzeka ukuba amaKristu, amukele izikhundla zamasosha, izimantshi, noma amakhosi, ngaphandle kokudela umsebenzi ongcwele ngokwengeziwe.” Ngokufanayo oFakazi BakaJehova bathatha ukuma kokungathathi-hlangothi okuqinile futhi balandela izimiso zeBhayibheli ezivezwe ku-Isaya 2:2-4 nakuMathewu 26:52.
13. Yiliphi icala oFakazi BakaJehova ababekwa lona, kodwa yini amaqiniso ayibonisayo?
13 Izitha zoFakazi BakaJehova zibabeka icala lokwahlukanisa imikhaya. Yiqiniso, ikhona imikhaya ehlukanayo lapho ilungu elilodwa noma engeziwe eba oFakazi BakaJehova. UJesu wabikezela ukuthi lokhu kwakuyokwenzeka. (Luka 12:51-53) Nokho, izibalo zibonisa ukuthi imishado echitheka ngenxa yalesizathu ayivamile. Ngokwesibonelo, phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova baseFrance umbhangqwana oshadile owodwa kwemithathu uhlanganisa umngane womshado ongeyena uFakazi. Nokho, isilinganiso sezehlukaniso phakathi kwalemishado exubile asisedluli isilinganiso sezwe lonke. Ngani? Abaphostoli uPawulu noPetru banikeza iseluleko esihlakaniphile, esiphefumlelwe kumaKristu ashade nabangakholwa, futhi oFakazi BakaJehova bazama ukulandela amazwi abo. (1 Korinte 7:12-16; 1 Petru 3:1-4) Uma umshado oxubile uchitheka, cishe ngaso sonke isikhathi umngane womshado ongeyena uFakazi nguye othatha isinyathelo kuqala. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, izinkulungwane eziningi zemishado ziye zasinda ngoba abangane bomshado beye baba oFakazi BakaJehova futhi baqala ukusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli ekuphileni kwabo.
BangamaKristu, Hhayi Abakholelwa KuZiqu-zintathu
14. Yiliphi icala amaKristu okuqala abekwa lona, futhi kungani lokhu kuhlekisa?
14 Kuyahlekisa ukuthi eMbusweni waseRoma, elinye lamacala abekwa amaKristu okuqala kwakuwukuthi aphika ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu. UDkt. Augustus Neander uyabhala: “Abaphiki bawonkulunkulu, abaphika ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu, . . . kwakuyigama elivamile amaKristu ayebizwa ngalo phakathi kwabantu.” Yeka indlela okumangalisa ngayo ukuthi amaKristu, ayekhulekela uMdali ophilayo hhayi onkulunkulu abaningi, abizwe ngokuthi abaphika ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu ngamaqaba ayekhulekela ‘abangesibo onkulunkulu, abangumsebenzi wezandla zomuntu kuphela, umuthi namatshe.’—Isaya 37:19.
15, 16. (a) Yini ezinye izishisekeli zenkolo eziye zayisho ngoFakazi BakaJehova, kodwa lokhu kuphakamisa muphi umbuzo? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bangamaKristu ngempela?
15 Okuhlekisa ngendlela efanayo iqiniso lokuthi namuhla abanye abaholi beLobukholwa bayakuphika ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bangamaKristu. Ngani? Ngoba oFakazi balahla imfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu. Ngokwencazelo yeLobukholwa engaqondile, “amaKristu yilabo abamukela uKristu njengoNkulunkulu.” Ngokuphambene nalokhu, isichazamazwi sesimanje sichaza ibizo elithi “umKristu” ngokuthi “umuntu okholelwa kuJesu Kristu nolandela izimfundiso zakhe” nelithi “ubuKristu” ngokuthi “inkolo esekelwe ezimfundisweni zikaJesu Kristu nasenkolelweni yokuthi wayeyindodana kaNkulunkulu.” Yiliphi iqembu eliyifanela kahle lencazelo?
16 OFakazi BakaJehova bamukela ubufakazi bukaJesu ngokwakhe ngokuqondene nokuthi ungubani. Wathi: “NgiyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu,” akazange athi, “NginguNkulunkulu iNdodana.” (Johane 10:36; qhathanisa noJohane 20:31.) Bamukela amazwi kamphostoli uPawulu aphefumlelwe aphathelene noKristu: “Owathi, enesimo sikaNkulunkulu, akazange abheke ukulingana noNkulunkulu njengokuthile kokuphangwa.” * (Filipi 2:6, The New Jerusalem Bible) Incwadi ethi The Paganism in Our Christianity ithi: “UJesu Kristu akakaze asisho isimanga esinjalo [uZiqu-zintathu olinganayo], futhi akukho ndawo eTestamenteni Elisha lapho igama elithi ‘uZiqu-zintathu’ livela khona. Lomqondo wamukelwa iSonto eminyakeni engamakhulu amathathu kuphela ngemva kokufa kweNkosi yethu; futhi umsuka wawo ungowobuqaba ngokuphelele.” OFakazi BakaJehova bamukela imfundiso yeBhayibheli ngokuphathelene noKristu. BangamaKristu, hhayi abakholelwa kuZiqu-zintathu.
Abayona Ingxenye Yezinhlangano Ezimelela AmaSonto
17. Kungani oFakazi BakaJehova bengabambisani nezinhlangano ezimelela amasonto, noma ezixubanisa izinkolo?
17 Okunye ukukhononda okubili okumelene noFakazi BakaJehova ukuthi bayenqaba ukuba nengxenye ezinhlanganweni ezimelela amasonto nokuthi bahileleka kulokho okubizwa ngokuthi “ukuguqula abantu ngokubahlasela.” Kokubili lokhu kuhlambalaza kwafumbelwa nakumaKristu okuqala. ELobukholwa, kanye nezingxenye zalo ezilakhayo zobuKatolika, ubu-Orthodox, nobuProtestani, liyingxenye yalelizwe ngokungenakuphikwa. NjengoJesu, oFakazi BakaJehova ‘abasibo abezwe.’ (Johane 17:14) Bangazenza kanjani, ngezinhlangano ezixubanisa inkolo, abahlobo bezinhlangano zenkolo ezithuthukisa ukuziphatha nezinkolelo okungekhona okobuKristu?
18. (a) Kungani oFakazi BakaJehova bengenakugxekwa uma bethi yibona kuphela abaqhuba inkolo yeqiniso? (b) Nakuba ekholelwa ukuthi anenkolo yeqiniso, yini amaRoma Katolika angenayo?
18 Ubani ongagxeka oFakazi BakaJehova ngokufanelekile ngokukholekwa ukuthi, njengoba kwenza amaKristu okuqala, yibona kuphela abaqhuba inkolo yeqiniso? Ngisho neSonto LamaKatolika, nakuba ngokuzenzisa lithi liyabambisana nezinhlangano ezimelela amasonto, liyamemezela: “Sikholelwa ukuthi lenkolo eyodwa yeqiniso iyaqhubeka ikhona eSontweni LamaKatolika nelabaPhostoli, iNkosi uJesu eyaliphathisa umsebenzi wokuyisakaza phakathi kwabo bonke abantu lapho ithi kubaphostoli: ‘Ngalokho hambani nenze izizwe zonke abafundi.’” (Vatican Council II, “Declaration on Religious Liberty”) Nokho, ngokusobala inkolelo enjalo ayanele ukuba ifake amaKatolika intshiseko engapheli ekubeni aqhubeke enza abafundi.
19. (a) Yini oFakazi BakaJehova abazimisele ukuyenza, futhi beshukunyiswa yini? (b) Yini eyohlaziywa esihlokweni esilandelayo?
19 OFakazi BakaJehova banentshiseko enjalo. Bazimisele ukuqhubeka befakaza uma nje uNkulunkulu esafuna ukuba benze kanjalo. (Mathewu 24:14) Ukufakaza kwabo kungokwentshiseko kodwa akukhona okuhlaselayo. Kushukunyiswa uthando ngomakhelwane, hhayi inzondo ngesintu. Bathemba ukuthi isintu esiningi ngangokunokwenzeka siyosindiswa. (1 Thimothewu 4:16) NjengamaKristu okuqala, bazama ‘ukuhlalisana ngokuthula nabantu bonke.’ (Roma 12:18) Ukuthi lokhu bakwenza kanjani kuyoxoxwa ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
^ par. 16 Ukuze uthole ingxoxo yalendaba ephathelene nemfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu engenakuphikiswa, bheka INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-June 15, 1971, amakhasi 355-6.
Imibuzo Yokubukeza
□ Yini eyayiwuphawu lwamaKristu okuqala, futhi oFakazi BakaJehova bawalingisa kanjani?
□ Yiziphi izici oFakazi BakaJehova ababonisa ngazo ukuthi bayizakhamuzi ezinhle?
□ Izigaba ezibusayo zaziwabheka kanjani amaKristu okuqala, futhi ingabe kunomehluko namuhla?
□ Inkolelo yoFakazi yokuthi baneqiniso ibashukumisela ukuba benzeni?
[Imibuzo Yesifundo]
[Izithombe ekhasini 12]
OFakazi BakaJehova bazimisele ukuqhubeka befakaza uma nje uNkulunkulu esafuna ukuba benze kanjalo
[Isithombe ekhasini 17]
UPilatu wathi: “Bhekani lomuntu!”—uMuntu owayengeyona ingxenye yezwe.—Johane 19:5
[Umthombo]
“Ecce Homo” by A. Ciseri: Florence, Galleria d’Arte Moderna/Alinari/Art Resource, N.Y.