Indlela Yokunxiba Nokuzilungisa Yenza Kwanzima Kum Ukwamkela Inyaniso

KUBALISA UEILEEN BRUMBAUGH

NDAKHULELA kwinkonzo ekuthiwa yi-Old Order German Baptist Brethren, ebufana nenkonzo yama-Amish namaMennonite. Le nkonzo yaqala eJamani ngo-1708 idibene nenkonzo ekwakusithiwa yiPietism. IEncyclopedia of Religion ithi inkonzo ebizwa ngokuba yiPietism yayenzelwe “ukunceda abantu abadinga ivangeli kaKristu.” Loo nto yenza ukuba bathumele abavangeli kumazwe amaninzi.

Ngo-1719 kwafika iqela elincinane elalikhokelwa nguAlexander Mack kwindawo ngoku eyaziwa ngokuba yiPennsylvania, eMerika. Ukususela ngoko, kuye kwakho amaqela amaninzi aphuma kwamanye. Qela ngalinye izinto lizenza ngendlela eliziqonda ngayo iimfundiso zika-Alexander Mack. Elethu iqela lalinabantu abaphantse babeyi-50. Eyona nto kwakuthiwa ibalulekile, kukufunda iBhayibhile nokulandela izigqibo ezenziwe ngabantu basecaweni.

Sele kugqithe izizukulwana ezithathu intsapho yasekhaya ikule nkonzo. Nam ndaba kuyo ibe ndabhaptizwa ndina-13. Xa ndandikhula, ndafundiswa ukuba kubi ukuba nemoto okanye ukuhamba ngayo, ukusebenzisa itrekta, ifowuni, nkqu nerediyo, yonke nje into esebenza ngombane. Amabhinqa ayenxiba iimpahla ezingatsali mehlo, engachebi, futhi engahambi engathwelanga entloko. Amadoda wona ayenentshebe. Sasicinga ukuba ukungabi ngowehlabathi kwakuthetha ukunganxibi iimpahla ezinxitywa kule mihla, imakeup, namacici, ibe sasisithi ezo zinto zibonisa ikratshi.

Safundiswa ukuba siyihloniphe kakhulu iBhayibhile, kuba sasisithi isisondeza kuThixo. Qho kusasa ngaphambi kokuba sitye, sasidibana size simamele utata efunda isahluko eBhayibhileni aze athethe ngezinto azifundileyo, size siguqe xa ethandaza. Emva koko, umama wayesenza uMthandazo weNkosi. Ndandisoloko ndivuya xa sikhonza kusasa kuba sasidibana sonke njengentsapho size sithethe ngeBhayibhile.

Sasihlala kwifama engaseDelphi, eIndiana ibe sasilima izinto ezininzi. Sasiyisa edolophini ngenqwelo yamahashe sizithengise estratweni okanye ezindlini zabantu. Sasisenza loo nto yonke imihla, ngaphandle kwangeCawa, kuba sasingamele senze nawuphi na “umsebenzi onzima.” Sasisithi sikhonza uThixo xa sisebenza nzima. Kodwa ke, ngamanye amaxesha intsapho yethu yayixakeka ngumsebenzi kakhulu de kube nzima nokufunda iBhayibhile.

Umtshato Nentsapho

Ngo-1963, xa ndandina-17, ndatshata noJames, naye owayekhonza eOld Brethren. Ookhokho bakhe nabo babekhonza eOld Brethren. Sobabini sasifuna nyhani ukukhonza uThixo, ibe sasikholelwa ukuba yeyethu qha icawa eyamkelekileyo.

Ngo-1975 sasisele sinabantwana abayi-6, saza saba nowokugqibela ngo-1983. Sasinentombi enye qha, uRebecca. Sasisebenza nzima, singayityi kakhulu imali ibe siphila ubomi obulula. Sazama ukufundisa abantwana bethu imigaqo yeBhayibhile esasiyifundiswe ngabazali bethu kunye nabanye abantu ecaweni.

EOld Brethren yayibaluleke kakhulu indlela umntu azilungisa ngayo. Sasikholelwa ukuba njengokuba kungekho mntu ukwaziyo ukujonga intliziyo, indlela umntu anxibe ngayo yayibonisa ukuba unjani ngaphakathi. Ngenxa yaloo nto, xa umntu ezilungise kakhulu iinwele zakhe, sasisithi unekratshi. Xa ilokhwe ihonjiswe kakhulu, loo nto yayibonisa unekratshi. Ngamanye amaxesha, ezi zinto zazibaluleka ukogqitha iZibhalo.

Into Eyenzeka Etrongweni

Ekupheleni kuka-1960, uJesse ongumninawa womyeni yam wabanjwa kuba zange afune ukuya emkhosini. Naye wayekhuliswe kwicawa yeOld Brethren. Etrongweni wadibana namaNgqina kaYehova, nawo akholelwa ukuba imigaqo yeBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba ukuya emkhosini akufanelekanga. (Isaya 2:4; Mateyu 26:52) UJesse wayekuthanda ukuncokola namaNgqina ngeBhayibhile ibe wazibonela ngokwakhe indlela awayeziphethe ngayo. Emva kwexesha efundelwa iBhayibhile, wabhaptizwa waliNgqina. Sasingayithandi ncam ke loo nto.

UJesse wayedla ngokuxelela umyeni wam izinto azifundileyo, kangangokuba wade waqinisekisa ukuba usoloko efumana iMboniselo noVukani!. Umyeni wam waya esiba nomdla kakhulu eBhayibhileni ngenxa yezi zinto wayezifunda. Phofu wayenomdla kwinto yonke enokumenza azive esondele kuThixo kuba wayefuna ukumkhonza qha engade azive esondele kuye.

Abadala basecaweni basikhuthaza ukuba sifunde iimagazini zama-Amish, ama-Mennonite, nezinye iinkonzo zeOld Brethren, nangona sasisithi ezo nkonzo zezehlabathi. Utata wayengafuni nokuwabona amaNgqina. Kangangokuba wayesithi singaze sifunde iMboniselo noVukani! Ngenxa yaloo nto, zange ndiyithande into yokuba umyeni wam ezifunda. Ndandinexhala lokuba uza kufunda izinto ezibubuxoki.

Kodwa yena umyeni wam wayenezinto azithandabuzayo ezazifundiswa eOld Brethren, awayesithi ziphikisana neBhayibhile. Enye yazo yimfundiso yokuba kusisono ukwenza nawuphi na “umsebenzi onzima” ngeCawa. Ngokomzekelo, kufundiswa ukuba kuvumelekile ukunika izilwanyana amanzi ngeCawa kodwa akuvumelekanga ukususa ukhula. Abadala basecaweni zange bakwazi ukumbonisa ukuba bayithatha phi loo nto eBhayibhileni. Emva kwexesha, nam ndaqalisa ukungaqiniseki ngeemfundiso ezinjalo.

Kwakusele kulixesha elide sikholelwa ukuba sikhonza kweyona cawa kaThixo, ibe xa sacinga ngezinto ezinokwenzeka ukuba sinokuhamba kuyo, kwaba nzima ukuyishiya. Kodwa izazela zethu zazingasivumeli ukuba sihlale kwinkonzo eyayingaphili ngayo yonke imithetho yeBhayibhile. Ngoko ngo-1983, sabhala ileta sichaza ukuba kutheni sihamba saza sacela ukuba ifundwe enkonzweni. Sagxothwa ecaweni.

Sakhangela Inkonzo Yenyaniso

Emva koko, sakhangela inkonzo yenyaniso. Sasifuna ukuba abantu abakuyo bazenze izinto abazifundisa abanye. Okokuqala, sazixelela ukuba asizuya nokuya kwiinkonzo eziya emkhosini. Kuba sasifuna inkonzo engeyiyo eyehlabathi, sasikhangela enabantu abaphila ubomi obulula nabanxiba impahla engatsali mehlo. Ukususela ngo-1983 ukuya ku-1985, sasikhangela kuzo zonke iinkonzo ezikwilizwe lethu, amaMennonite, amaQuaker, namanye amaqela.

Kwangelo xesha, kwafika amaNgqina kaYehova kwifama yethu engaseCamden, eIndiana. Sasidla ngokuwamamela, siwacele ukuba asebenzise iBhayibhile yeKing James Version. Ndandiyithanda indlela amaNgqina akujonga ngayo ukuya emkhosini. Kodwa kwakunzima ukuwamamela, kuba ayengakuboni kubalulekile ukuzahlula ehlabathini ngokunxiba iimpahla ezingatsali mehlo. Ngoko ndagqiba ekubeni ayinakwenzeka into yokuba yeyabo inkonzo yenyani. Ndandicinga ukuba likratshi elenza abantu banganxibi njengathi, nokuba umntu onezinto ezininzi unekratshi.

Umyeni wam waqalisa ukuya eHolweni yoBukumkani yamaNgqina kaYehova. Wayedla ngokuhamba noonyana bethu. Yayindicaphukisa ke le nto. Wayendicenga ukuba ndihambe naye, kodwa ndandingafuni. Ngenye imini wathi, “Noba awuvumelani nezinto abazifundisayo, khawuyozibonela indlela abaphathana ngayo.” Wayeyithanda kakhulu le nto wayeyibonile.

Ndade ndavuma ukuhamba naye kodwa ndiqonda ukuba ndizohlala ndilumkile. Ndangena eHolweni yoBukumkani ndinxibe ilokhwe yam engatsali mehlo, ndithwele entloko. Abanye oonyana bethu babenganxibanga zihlangu ibe nabo benxibe iimpahla ezingatsali mehlo. Kodwa amaNgqina eza kuthi asiphatha ngothando. Ndathi, ‘Asifani nabo, kodwa bayasamkela.’

Ndayithanda kakhulu indlela ababenothando ngayo kodwa ndazixelela ukuba ndiza kukhe ndibajonge kakuhle. Xa becula, ndandingaphakami tu, phofu ndandingaculi naloo maculo. Emva kwentlanganiso, ndababuza imibuzo emininzi ngezinto endicinga ukuba abazenzi kakuhle nangokuba izibhalo ezithile zithetha ukuthini. Ndandingathethi kakuhle nabo, kodwa bonke babenomdla kum. Enye into endayithandayo kukuba xa ndibuza umbuzo omnye ebantwini abahlukeneyo, iimpendulo zabo zazifana. Ngamanye amaxesha, iimpendulo babezibhala. Yayinceda kakhulu ke loo nto kuba ndanditsho ndikwazi ukuzifundela ngexesha lam.

Ngo-1985 ehlotyeni, mna nentsapho yam saya endibanweni yamaNgqina kaYehova eMemphis, eseTennessee, siyobukela nje kuphela. UJames wayesenentshebe ibe sasisanxiba impahla engatsali mehlo. Ngekhefu, kwakusoloko kukho abantu abaza kuthi. Sayithanda kakhulu indlela abanothando ngayo, nabasamkela ngayo. Enye into esasiyithanda yindlela abamanyene ngayo, kuba sabona ukuba noba sizingenele phi iintlanganiso, kufundiswa into enye.

UJames wayithanda kakhulu indlela amaNgqina abakhathalele ngayo abantu waza wavuma ukufundelwa iBhayibhile. Wayehlolisisa yonke into kuba wayefuna ukuqiniseka ngezinto azifundayo. (IZenzo 17:11; 1 Tesalonika 5:21) Emva kwexesha, waqiniseka ukuba uyifumene inyaniso. Mna ndandingazi ukuba ndithini. Ndandifuna kona ukwenza into elungileyo, kodwa ndandingafuni ukufana nabantu bale mihla ndize ndibe ngathi ndingowehlabathi. Ngosuku lokuqala ndivumile ukufundelwa iBhayibhile, ndandiphethe iBhayibhile yeKing James Version kwelinye icala, kwelinye ndiphethe iNguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha. Ndandijonga zonke iivesi kuzo zombini, kuba ndandifuna ukuqiniseka ukuba andilahlekiswa.

Into Eyandenza Ndaqiniseka

Njengokuba sasifunda namaNgqina, safunda ukuba utata wethu wasezulwini akangobathathu emnye, kodwa nguThixo omnye, nokuba asinamphefumlo ungafiyo, kodwa sithi imiphefumlo. (Genesis 2:7; Duteronomi 6:4; Hezekile 18:4; 1 Korinte 8:5, 6) Safunda nokuba isihogo lingcwaba, ayondawo kungcungcuthekiswa kuyo abantu ngomlilo. (Yobhi 14:13; INdumiso 16:10; INtshumayeli 9:5, 10; IZenzo 2:31) Sakuthanda kakhulu ukufunda inyani ngesihogo, kuba kaloku eOld Brethren babengathethi nto inye ngaso.

Kodwa ke, ndandisazibuza ukuba ingenzeka njani into yokuba amaNgqina abe yinkonzo yenyaniso, kuba kaloku kum, ayengawehlabathi. Ndandisithi awaphili bomi bulula, ibe loo nto yayibalulekile kum. Kwangelo xesha, ndaqaphela ukuba ayethobela umyalelo kaYesu wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoBukumkani ebantwini. Ndandibhidekile!​—Mateyu 24:14; 28:19, 20.

Kweli xesha lalinzima kakhulu kum, indlela amaNgqina kaYehova anothando ngayo yandinceda ndakwazi ukuqhubeka ndiphanda. Ibandla lonke lalisikhathalele. Abantu abasebandleni babeqhubeka bezosibona, ngamanye amaxesha bade benze ngathi bazothenga ubisi namaqanda. Sabona ukuba ngabantu abazilungeleyo. Amanye amaNgqina ayengonqeni ukuzosibona kuba nje sifundelwa liNgqina elithile. Kodwa qho xa engasendlini, ayengena ezosibona. Le nto yayisinceda siwazi kakuhle ibe sayithanda nyhani indlela anothando ngayo.

YayingengomaNgqina akwibandla elikufuphi nathi kuphela awayesihoyile. Njengokuba ndandingayithandi indlela abanye abanxiba nabazilungisa ngayo, udade Kay Briggs owayekwelinye ibandla elikufutshane wazondibona. Naye wayezikhethela ukunxiba ngendlela engawatsaliyo amehlo ibe engayifaki ne-makeup. Kwaba lula ukuthetha naye ibe ndancokola naye ndikhululekile. Ngenye imini, uLewis Flora, owayekhulele kwinkonzo efana naleya ndandikhulele kuyo wazondibona. Wayebona ukuba ndibhidekile, waza wandithumelela ileta enamaphepha ayi-10, ezama undinceda ndingaxakwa kangaka. Indlela awayenobubele ngayo yandenza ndakhala, kangangokuba ileta yakhe ndayifunda kaliqela.

Ndacela uMzalwana uO’Dell ongumveleli ukuba andicacisele uIsaya 3:18-23 no-1 Petros 3:3, 4. Ndathi, “Ezi vesi azibonisi ukuba ukuze sivuyise uThixo, simele singanxibi mpahla zitsala amehlo?” Wathi: “Ikhona into erongo ngokuthwala entloko? Ngaba kurongo ukuphotha iinwele?” EOld Brethren, amantombazana sasidla ngokuwaphotha iinwele, ibe namabhinqa ayethwala entloko. Ndandiwubona umahluko ibe ndayithanda nendlela awayenobubele nomonde ngayo umveleli.

Ndaya ndiqiniseka kancinci kancinci, kodwa kwakusekho into endingayiqondiyo​—amabhinqa ayezicheba iinwele zawo. Abadala bandicacisela ukuba iinwele zamanye amabhinqa azikhuli zibe nde, kanti ezamanye ziba nde kakhulu. Xa kunjalo, ngaba zikhona ezibhetele kunezinye? Bandinceda ndabona ukuba indlela yokunxiba nokuzilungisa idinga isazela, baza bandinika nezinto endimele ndizifundele endlini.

Sazenza Izinto Esasizifunda

Sasiyifumene into esasiyikhangela. UYesu wathi: “Bonke baza kutsho bazi ukuba ningabafundi bam, ukuba niyathandana.” (Yohane 13:35) Sasiqinisekile ukuba amaNgqina kaYehova anothando. Kodwa ke, abantwana bethu ababini bokuqala, uNathan noRebecca babebhidekile kuba babesele beyamkele inkonzo yaseOld Brethren de babhaptizelwa kuyo. Emva kwexesha, nabo bazithanda iinyaniso eziseBhayibhileni esasibabonisa zona, babona nendlela amaNgqina anothando ngayo.

Ngokomzekelo, uRebecca wayesoloko efuna ukuba ngumhlobo kaThixo. Emva kokuba efunde ukuba uThixo akasigqibeli kwangaphambili ukuba ikamva lethu liza kuba njani, kwaba lula kuye ukuthandaza kuThixo. Wasondela kakhulu kuThixo emva kokuba efunde ukuba ungumntu wokwenene nanokumlinganisa, akangobathathu emnye. (Efese 5:1) Wayevuyiswa nakukwazi ukuba akanyanzelekanga asebenzise amagama akudala akwiKing James Version xa ethetha naye. Waziva esondele nakakhulu kuMdali wakhe emva kokufunda ukuba ufuna athandaze njani, nokuba ufuna abantu baphile emhlabeni oyiparadesi ngonaphakade.​—INdumiso 37:29; ISityhilelo 21:3, 4.

Izinto Esizenzayo

Mna nomyeni wam nabantwana bethu abayi-5 bokuqala, uNathan, uRebecca, uGeorge, uDaniel, noJohn, sabhaptizwa ngo-1987. UHarley wabhaptizwa ngo-1989, uSimon yena ngo-1994. Intsapho yethu yonke izinikele ekwenzeni umsebenzi uYesu Kristu awawuthuma abalandeli bakhe, ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoBukumkani bukaThixo.

Oonyana bethu abayi-5, uNathan, uGeorge, uDaniel, uJohn, noHarley, nentombi yethu uRebecca baye bakhonza kwiofisi yesebe yamaNgqina kaYehova yaseMerika. UGeorge yena uselapho nangoku, uneminyaka eyi-14 elapho. USimon wagqiba esikolweni ngo-2001, ibe naye ukhonza eBheteli. Bonke oonyana bethu bazizicaka zolungiselelo nabadala emabandleni amaNgqina kaYehova. Umyeni wam ngumdala kwibandla laseThayer, eMissouri. Mna ndixakeke kukushumayela.

Sinabazukulwana abathathu, uJessica, uLatisha, noCaleb ibe kuyasivuyisa ukubona abazali babo bebafundisa ukuthanda uYehova besebancinci. Mna nentsapho yam sivuya kakhulu kuba uYehova esitsalele kuye waza wasinceda sababona abantu bakhe ngothando abanalo.

Siyabacingela abantu abakufuna nyhani ukuvuyisa uThixo kodwa benezazela eziqeqeshwe yindlela abakhuliswe ngayo kunokuba ziqeqeshwe yiBhayibhile. Siyathemba ukuba nabo njengathi, baza kuvuyiswa kukuya emakhayeni abantu, bengayanga kuthengisa kutya, kodwa beyokubachazela ngeendaba ezilungileyo ezingoBukumkani bukaThixo nangezinto ezintle obuza kuzenza. Xa ndicinga ngendlela ababenomonde nothando ngayo abantu bakaYehova, ndiba nombulelo ndide ndibe neenyembezi!

[Imifanekiso]

Xa ndandineminyaka eyi-7, naxa ndandisele ndikhulile

[Umfanekiso]

UJames, uGeorge, uHarley, noSimon, benxibe impahla engatsali mehlo

[Umfanekiso]

Le yifoto yam eyayikwiphephandaba lasekuhlaleni, ndithengisa ukutya

[Inkcazelo]

IJournal and Courier, yaseLafayette, eIndiana

[Umfanekiso]

Mna nentsapho yam namhlanje