Ningakuyeki Ukuhlangana Ndawonye

“Singakuyeki ukuhlangana kwethu njengomkhuba wabanye,” kusho imiBhalo, “kepha masivuselelane, ikakhulu njengokuba nibona usuku lusondela.” (Heberu 10:25, IBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile) Ngokusobala, abakhulekeli beqiniso kumelwe bahlangane ndawonye endaweni yokukhulekela ngenjongo yokuba ‘bacabangelane ukuze bavuselelane othandweni nasemisebenzini emihle.’—Heberu 10:24.

LAPHO umphostoli uPawulu ebhala la mazwi angenhla ekhulwini lokuqala leNkathi yethu Evamile, kwakunethempeli elihloniphekile eJerusalema elaliyindawo yokukhulekela yamaJuda. Kwakukhona namasinagoge. UJesu ‘wayefundisile esinagogeni nasethempelini, lapho wonke amaJuda ayebuthanela khona.’—Johane 18:20.

Hlobo luni lwezindawo zokuhlangana uPawulu ayekhuluma ngazo lapho eyala amaKristu ukuba ahlangane ndawonye ukuze akhuthazane? Ingabe kukhona ukufana phakathi kwezakhiwo ezinkulu zenkolo zeLobukholwa nelungiselelo lesikhathi esidlule lethempeli eJerusalema? Labo ababezibiza ngamaKristu baqala nini ukuba nezithabathaba zezakhiwo zenkolo?

‘Indlu Yegama LikaNkulunkulu’

Iziyalezo zokuqala ngendawo yokukhulekela uNkulunkulu zitholakala encwadini yeBhayibheli ka-Eksodusi. UJehova uNkulunkulu wayala abantu bakhe abakhethiwe—ama-Israyeli—ukuba bakhe “itabernakele,”  noma “itende lokuhlangana.” Umphongolo wesivumelwano nezitsha ezingcwele ezihlukahlukene kwakumelwe kugcinwe lapho. ‘Inkazimulo kaJehova yagcwalisa itabernakele’ lapho liqedwa ngo-1512 B.C.E. Iminyaka engaphezu kwamakhulu amane leli tende elithwalekayo laba isici esiyinhloko elungiselelweni likaNkulunkulu lokusondela kuye. (Eksodusi, izahluko 25-27; 40:33-38) IBhayibheli futhi libiza leli tende ngokuthi “ithempeli likaJehova” nangokuthi “indlu kaJehova.”—1 Samuweli 1:9, 24.

Kamuva, lapho uDavide eseyinkosi eJerusalema, wazwakalisa isifiso esinamandla sokwakha indlu ehlala njalo ezoletha inkazimulo kuJehova. Nokho, njengoba uDavide ayeyindoda yempi, uJehova wathi kuye: “Awuyikwakhela igama lami indlu.” Kunalokho, wakhetha indodana kaDavide uSolomoni ukuba yakhe ithempeli. (1 IziKronike 22:6-10) Ngo-1026 B.C.E., uSolomoni wanikezela ithempeli ngemva kokulakha isikhathi esiyiminyaka eyisikhombisa nesigamu. UJehova wasamukela lesi sakhiwo, ethi: “Ngiyingcwelisile le ndlu oyakhileyo ukuba ngibeke khona igama lami kuze kube phakade; amehlo ami nenhliziyo yami kuyakuba khona izinsuku zonke.” (1 AmaKhosi 9:3) Uma nje ama-Israyeli ayehlala ethembekile, umusa kaJehova wawuyoba kuleyo ndlu. Kodwa uma ekushiya ukulunga, uJehova wayeyowususa umusa wakhe kuleyo ndawo, ‘indlu ngokwayo ibe izinqwaba zezincithakalo.’—1 AmaKhosi 9:4-9, NW; 2 IziKronike 7:16, 19, 20.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ama-Israyeli akushiya ngempela ukukhulekela kweqiniso. (2 AmaKhosi 21:1-5) “Ngalokho [uJehova] wabehlisela inkosi yamaKaledi, . . . bayishisa indlu kaNkulunkulu, baludiliza ugange lwaseJerusalema, bazishisa zonke izinqaba ngomlilo, bazichitha zonke izitsha ezinxanelekayo zakhona. Abasele enkembeni wabathumbela eBabele; baba yizinceku zakhe nezamadodana akhe.” NgokweBhayibheli, lokhu kwenzeka ngo-607 B.C.E.—2 IziKronike 36:15-21; Jeremiya 52:12-14.

Njengoba kwakubikezelwe umprofethi u-Isaya, uNkulunkulu wavusa iNkosi uKoresi yasePheresiya ukuba ikhulule amaJuda emandleni eBabiloni. (Isaya 45:1) Ngemva kokudingiswa iminyaka engu-70, abuyela eJerusalema ngo-537 B.C.E. ngenjongo yokwakha kabusha ithempeli. (Ezra 1:1-6; 2:1, 2; Jeremiya 29:10) Ngemva kokulibaziseka ekwakheni, ekugcineni ithempeli laphela ngo-515 B.C.E., futhi ukukhulekela uNkulunkulu okuhlanzekile kwabuyiselwa. Nakuba lesi sakhiwo sasingebona ubukhazikhazi njengethempeli likaSolomoni, sahlala iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-600. Nokho, leli thempeli laphinde labhidlika ngoba ama-Israyeli akudebeselela ukukhulekela uJehova. Lapho uJesu efika emhlabeni, ithempeli lalakhiwa kabusha iNkosi uHerode. Kwakuzokwenzekani kuleli thempeli?

‘Alikho Itshe Eliyoshiywa Phezu Kwetshe’

Ekhuluma ngethempeli eliseJerusalema, uJesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Akusoze kwashiywa lapha itshe phezu kwetshe lingadilizelwa phansi.” (Mathewu 24:1, 2) Njengokusho kwalawo mazwi, ngo-70 C.E., indawo okwase kungamakhulu eminyaka yaziwa ngokuthi iyisikhungo sokukhulekela uNkulunkulu yabhujiswa amabutho amaRoma ayezoqeda ukuvukela kwamaJuda. * Lelo thempeli aliphindanga lakhiwa. Ekhulwini lesikhombisa, kwakhiwa indlu  enkulu yesonto lamaSulumane ebizwa ngokuthi iDome of the Rock, esekhona nanamuhla kuleyo ndawo amaJuda ayekhulekela kuyo esikhathini esidlule.

Laliyoba yini ilungiselelo lokukhulekela labalandeli bakaJesu? Ingabe amaKristu okuqala ayengamaJuda ngokwemvelo ayezoqhubeka ekhulekela uNkulunkulu ethempelini okwakungasensuku zatshwala libhujiswe? Ayezomkhulekela kuphi uNkulunkulu amaKristu angewona amaJuda? Ingabe izakhiwo zenkolo zeLobukholwa yizo ezazizothatha indawo yethempeli? Ingxoxo kaJesu nowesifazane ongumSamariya isinikeza ukuqonda ngale ndaba.

Kwase kungamakhulu eminyaka amaSamariya ekhulekela uNkulunkulu ethempelini elikhulu eliseNtabeni iGerizimu eSamariya. Owesifazane ongumSamariya wathi kuJesu: “Okhokho bethu bakhulekela kulentaba; kodwa nina nithi iseJerusalema indawo lapho abantu kufanele bakhulekele khona.” Ephendula, uJesu wathi: “Ngikholwe, sifazane, Ihora liyeza lapho ningayikukhulekela uBaba kulentaba noma eJerusalema.” Ithempeli elingokoqobo lalingeke lisadingeka ekukhulekeleni uJehova, ngoba uJesu wachaza: “UNkulunkulu uwuMoya, futhi labo abamkhulekelayo kumelwe bakhulekele ngomoya nangeqiniso.” (Johane 4:20, 21, 24) Kamuva umphostoli uPawulu watshela abase-Athene: “UNkulunkulu owenza izwe nakho konke okukulo, iNkosi yezulu nomhlaba, njengoba Lona eyiyo, akahlali emathempelini enziwe ngezandla.”—IZenzo 17:24.

Ngokusobala, izakhiwo zenkolo zeLobukholwa azihlangene nelungiselelo lethempeli leNkathi yangaphambi kobuKristu. Futhi amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayengenaso isizathu sokwakha izindawo ezinjalo. Nokho, ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli, ukuphambuka ezimfundisweni zeqiniso okwabikezelwa—ukuhlubuka—kwenzeka. (IzEnzo 20:29, 30) Eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambi kokuba uMbusi WaseRoma uConstantine athi uphendukele ebuKristwini ngo-313 C.E., labo ababethi bangamaKristu baqala ukuphambuka kulokho uJesu ayekufundisile.

UConstantine waba nesandla ekuhlanganiseni “ubuKristu” nenkolo yamaRoma yobuqaba. I-Encyclopaedia Britannica ithi: “UConstantine ngokwakhe wayala ukuba kwakhiwe izakhiwo ezintathu ezinkulu zokukhulekela zamaKristu eRoma: iSt. Peter’s, iS. Paolo Fuori le Mura, neS. Giovanni in Laterano. Wasungula ipulani elimise okwesiphambano elaba umklamo wamasonto amaningi entshonalanga Yurophu eNkathini Ephakathi.” Namanje iSt. Peter’s Basilica eRome eyakhiwa kabusha isabhekwa njengensika yeSonto LamaRoma Katolika.

“ISonto lamukela amanye amasiko enkolo nezindlela zokukhulekela zenkolo ezazivame eRoma [lobuqaba] langaphambi kwenkathi yobuKristu,” kusho isazi-mlando uWill Durant. Lokhu kwakuhlanganisa “nesimo sesakhiwo esikhulu sokukhulekela.” Kusukela ekhulwini leshumi kuya kweleshumi nanhlanu ayakhiwa ngapha nangapha amasonto amancane namakhulu, kugcizelelwa kakhulu ukubukeka kwesakhiwo. Zaqala ngaleso sikhathi ukuba khona eziningi zezakhiwo zeLobukholwa manje esezibhekwa njengezikhumbuzo zobuciko.

Ingabe abantu bayakuthola ngaso sonke isikhathi ukuqabuleka okungokomoya nesikhuthazo ngokukhulekela esontweni? “Kimi, isonto lalimelela konke okuyisidina nokuyisicefe enkolweni,” kusho uFrancisco waseBrazil. “IMisa laliwumcimbi ongenangqondo, ophindaphinda into eyodwa owawungazanelisi neze izidingo  zami zangempela. Kwakuba impumuzo ukuphela kwalo.” Noma kunjalo, abakhulekeli beqiniso bayalwa ukuba bahlangane ndawonye. Iliphi ilungiselelo lokuhlangana okufanele balilandele?

‘Ibandla Elisendlini Yabo’

Isibonelo sendlela yobuKristu yokuhlangana ndawonye sibonakala uma kuhlolwa indlela amakholwa ekhulu lokuqala ayehlangana ngayo. ImiBhalo ibonisa ukuthi ayevame ukuhlangana emizini yawo. Ngokwesibonelo, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Ngikhonzeleni koPriska no-Akwila izisebenzi ezikanye nami kuKristu Jesu, . . . nikhonze futhi ebandleni elisendlini yabo.” (Roma 16:3, 5; Kolose 4:15; Filemoni 2) Igama lesiGreki elisho “ibandla” (ek·kle·siʹa) lihunyushwe ngokuthi “isonto” kwezinye izinguqulo zesiNgisi, njenge-King James Version. Kodwa leli gama lisho iqembu labantu elihlangene ndawonye ngenjongo eyodwa, alisho isakhiwo. (IzEnzo 8:1; 13:1) Ukukhulekela okwenziwa amaKristu eqiniso akudingi izakhiwo zenkolo ezakhiwe ngobuciko.

Yayiqhutshwa kanjani imihlangano emabandleni amaKristu okuqala? Umfundi uJakobe usebenzisa igama lesiGreki elithi sy·na·go·geʹ lapho ebhekisela emhlanganweni wamaKristu. (Jakobe 2:2) Leli gama lesiGreki lisho “ukubuthela ndawonye” futhi lisetshenziswa ngokufana nelithi ek·kle·siʹa. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, igama elithi “isinagoge” lasho indawo noma isakhiwo lapho kwakuba nomhlangano khona. AmaKristu okuqala angamaJuda ayekujwayele okwakwenzeka esinagogeni. *

Nakuba amaJuda ayehlangana eJerusalema ukuze agubhe imikhosi yawo yaminyaka yonke, amasinagoge ayeyizindawo eziseduze zokufunda ngoJehova nangoMthetho. Kubonakala sengathi okwakwenziwa emasinagogeni kwakuwukuthandaza nokufunda imiBhalo, ukuxoxa kabanzi ngayo nokunikeza isikhuthazo. Lapho uPawulu nabanye ayenabo beya esinagogeni e-Antiyokiya, “izikhulu ezengamele zesinagoge zathumela [kubo], zithi: ‘Madoda, bafowethu, uma likhona izwi lesikhuthazo eninalo kubantu, lishoni.’” (IzEnzo 13:15) Lapho amaKristu okuqala angamaJuda ehlangana ndawonye emizini yawo, ngokusobala alandela inqubo efanayo, enza imihlangano yawo yaba  efundisayo ngokwemiBhalo neyakhayo ngokomoya.

Amabandla Okwakhana

NjengamaKristu okuqala, oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla bahlangana ndawonye ezindaweni zokukhulekela ezingadle ngabukhazikhazi ukuze bathole imfundiso yeBhayibheli futhi bajabulele ubudlelwane obuhle. Iminyaka eminingi bebehlangana kuphela emizini yabo futhi namanje basenza kanjalo kwezinye izindawo. Kodwa manje inani lamabandla selingaphezu kuka-90 000 futhi izindawo eziyinhloko abahlangana kuzo zibizwa ngokuthi amaHholo OMbuso. Umklamo walezi zakhiwo awuwona owokubukisa futhi awufani nowamasonto. Ayizakhiwo ezifeza injongo yazo nezingeyona inkimbinkimbi ezinganela amabandla abantu abangu-100 kuya ku-200 abahlangana masonto onke ukuzolalela nokufunda ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu.

Amabandla amaningi oFakazi BakaJehova ahlangana kathathu ngesonto. Omunye wale mihlangano yinkulumo yeningi enezihloko ezizuzisayo kulezi zinsuku. Ulandelwa isifundo esisekelwe endabeni noma esiprofethweni seBhayibheli, kusetshenziswa INqabayokulinda. Omunye umhlangano yisikole esiklanyelwe ukuqeqeshela ukwethula umyalezo weBhayibheli. Ulandelwa umhlangano ohloselwe ngokukhethekile ukunikeza amacebiso okusetshenziswa enkonzweni yobuKristu. Kanye ngesonto, oFakazi futhi bahlangana ngamaqembu amancane kweminye yemizi yabo batadishe iBhayibheli. Noma ubani angaba khona kuyo yonke le mihlangano. Akucelwa nkongozelo.

UFrancisco, okukhulunywe ngaye ekuqaleni, wayithola izuzisa kakhulu imihlangano eHholo LoMbuso. Uthi: “Indawo yokuqala yokuhlangana engaya kuyo kwakuyisakhiwo esithokomele esiphakathi nedolobha, futhi ngaphuma ehholo nginombono omuhle ngalo. Ababelapho babenobungane, futhi ngangiqaphela ukuthi bayathandana. Ngangimagange ngokuphinda ngibuyele. Eqinisweni, kusukela ngaleso sikhathi angikaze ngiphuthe emhlanganweni. Le mihlangano yobuKristu iyaqabula, futhi iyasanelisa isidingo sami esingokomoya. Ngisho noma ngizizwa ngidikibele ngesizathu esithile, ngiya eHholo LoMbuso ngiqiniseka ukuthi ngizobuyela ekhaya ngikhuthazekile.”

Nawe ulindelwe imfundo yeBhayibheli, ubungane obakhayo, nethuba lokudumisa uNkulunkulu emihlanganweni yobuKristu yoFakazi BakaJehova. Siyakucela ukuba uye eHholo LoMbuso eliseduze nalapho uhlala khona. Uyojabula ngokwenza kanjalo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Izithombe ekhasini 4, 5]

Itabernakele, kamuva namathempeli, kwaba izindawo ezinhle zokukhulekela uJehova

[Isithombe ekhasini 6]

ISt. Peter’s Basilica eRoma

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

AmaKristu okuqala ayehlangana ndawonye emizini yawo

 [Izithombe ekhasini 8, 9]

OFakazi BakaJehova baqhuba imihlangano yobuKristu emakhaya abo nasemaHholo OMbuso