Ukuhambisana Nentlangano kaYehova
“Ngamana uThixo woxolo . . . anganixhobisa ngento yonke elungileyo ukuze nenze ukuthanda kwakhe.”—HEBHERE 13:20, 21.
1. Bangakanani abemi bomhlaba, yaye bangaphi abantu abangamalungu ohlobo oluthile lonqulo?
NGONYAKA we-1999, abemi bomhlaba bafikelela iwaka lezigidi ezithandathu! IThe World Almanac ibonisa ukuba abantu abamalunga ne-1 165 000 000 kwelo nani ngamaSilamsi; abazizi-1 030 000 000 ngamaRoma Katolika; abazizi-762 000 000 ngamaHindu; abazizi-354 000 000 ngamaBhuda; abazizi-316 000-000 ngamaProtestanti; yaye abazizi-214 000 000 ngamaOthodoki.
2. Kunokuthiwani ngemeko yonqulo yanamhlanje?
2 Ngenxa yokwahlulelana nokuphixana okukhoyo elunqulweni namhlanje, ngaba kunokwenzeka ukuba zonke ezi zigidi zenza ngokuvisisana nokuthanda kukaThixo? Akunjalo, “kuba uThixo unguThixo, kungekhona owesidubedube, kodwa owoxolo.” (1 Korinte 14:33) Kwelinye icala, kuthekani ngobuzalwana babakhonzi bakaYehova bomhlaba wonke? (1 Petros 2:17) Uhlolisiso olwenziwe ngenyameko lungqina ukuba ‘uThixo woxolo uyabaxhobisa ngento yonke elungileyo ukuze benze ukuthanda kwakhe.’—Hebhere 13:20, 21.
3. Kwenzeka ntoni eYerusalem ngePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., yaye ngoba?
3 Kakade ke, inani labo banxulumana namaNgqina kaYehova alingomlinganiselo wokugqiba ukuba anayo kusini na inkoliseko kaThixo; nokwanda kwamanani akumkholisi uThixo. Akazange awanyule amaSirayeli ngenxa yokuba ‘ayengawona maninzi’ kwizizwana zonke. Eneneni, ‘ayembalwa’ kunazo zonke. (Duteronomi 7:7) Kodwa ngenxa yokuba uSirayeli engazange athembeke, ngePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., uYehova wayisusa inkoliseko yakhe wayinika ibandla elitsha elalinabalandeli bakaYesu Kristu. Bathanjiswa ngomoya oyingcwele kaYehova yaye babevakalisa kwabanye ngenzondelelo inyaniso ngoThixo nangoKristu.—IZenzo 2:41, 42.
Ukuqhubela Phambili Ngokuzingisileyo
4. Unokutsho njani ukuba ibandla lamaKristu okuqala laliqhubela phambili ngokuzingisileyo?
4 Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, ibandla lamaKristu laliqhubela phambili ngokuzingisileyo, liqala intsimi entsha, lisenza abafundi, yaye lizuza ukuqonda iinjongo zikaThixo ngokungakumbi. AmaKristu okuqala ayehambisana nokukhanya kokomoya okwakuvela kwiileta eziphefumlelwe nguThixo. Ekhuthazwa kukutyelelwa ngabapostile nabanye, abuzalisa ubulungiseleli bawo. Oku kuchazwe kakuhle kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike.—IZenzo 10:21, 22; 13:46, 47; 2 Timoti 1:13; 4:5; Hebhere 6:1-3; 2 Petros 3:17, 18.
5. Kutheni intlangano kaThixo ihambela phambili namhlanje, yaye kutheni sifanele sihambisane nayo?
5 Ngokufanayo namaKristu okuqala, amaNgqina kaYehova anamhlanje aye akhula esuka kwiqaqobana nje. (Zekariya 4:8-10) Ukususela ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane ye-19, bekukho ubungqina obucacileyo bokuba umoya kaThixo ukho kwintlangano yakhe. Ngenxa yokuba siye sathembela, kungekhona kumandla omntu, kodwa kukhokelo lomoya oyingcwele, siye saqhubeka sikhula ekuqondeni iZibhalo nasekwenzeni ukuthanda kukaThixo. (Zekariya 4:6) Njengokuba ngoku ‘sikwimihla yokugqibela,’ kubalulekile ukuba sihambisane nentlangano kaYehova ehambela phambili. (2 Timoti 3:1-5) Ukwenjenjalo kusinceda sigcine ithemba lethu liphila size sibe nesabelo ekunikeleni ubungqina ngoBukumkani bukaThixo obumiselweyo ngaphambi kokuba le nkqubo yezinto ifikelwe sisiphelo.—Mateyu 24:3-14.
6, 7. Ziziphi iinkalo ezintathu esiza kuziqwalasela eye yahambela phambili kuzo intlangano kaYehova?
6 Phakathi kwezintlu zethu kukho abo baqalisa ukunxulumana nentlangano kaYehova ngeminyaka yee-1920, yee-1930, neyee-1940. Ebudeni baloo minyaka yangaphambili, ngubani phakathi kwethu owayenokuluthelekelela ulwando olungummangaliso nenkqubela phambili eye yakho entlanganweni namhlanje? Khawucinge ngeziganeko eziphawulekayo eziye zenzeka kutshanje! Eneneni, kukho imivuzo yokomoya, ekucingeni oko kuye kwafezwa nguYehova esebenzisa abantu bakhe abalungelelaniswe ngokobuthixo.
7 UDavide wexesha lamandulo wachukumiseka ngokunzulu xa wayecinga ngemisebenzi kaYehova engummangaliso. Wathi: “Ukuba bendityekele ekuxeleni ndize ndithethe ngazo, zininzi kakhulu kunokuba ndinokubalisa.” (INdumiso 40:5) Nathi sisikelwe umda ngendlela efanayo asikwazi ukubalisa ngezenzo ezikhulu ezininzi ezenziwe nguYehova kumhla wethu. Sekunjalo, masiqwalasele iinkalo ezintathu eye yahambela phambili kuzo intlangano kaYehova: (1) ukukhanya kokomoya okwandayo, (2) ubulungiseleli obuphuculiweyo nobandisiweyo, yaye (3) uhlengahlengiso olwenziwa ngexesha elifanelekileyo kwiinkqubo zentlangano.
Ukuba Nombulelo Ngokukhanya Kokomoya
8. Ngokuvisisana neMizekeliso 4:18, ukukhanya kokomoya kuye kwasinceda ukuba siqonde ntoni ngokuphathelele uBukumkani?
8 Ngokuphathelele ukukhanya kokomoya okwandayo, IMizekeliso 4:18 iye yangqineka iyinyaniso. Ithi: “Umendo wamalungisa unjengokukhanya okuqaqambileyo okuya kukhanya ngokukhanya de kube semini emaqanda.” Hayi indlela esinombulelo ngayo ngenxa yokukhanya kokomoya okwandayo esiye sakubona! Kwindibano eyayiseCedar Point, eOhio, ngowe-1919, kwabalaseliswa uBukumkani bukaThixo. UYehova usebenzisa uBukumkani ukungcwalisa igama lakhe nokuthethelela ulongamo lwakhe. Eneneni, ukukhanya kokomoya kuye kwasinceda saqonda ukuba ukususela kwiGenesis ukuya kutsho kwiSityhilelo, iBhayibhile inikela ubungqina ngenjongo kaYehova yokungcwalisa igama lakhe esebenzisa uBukumkani bakhe obulawulwa nguNyana wakhe. Nalo ke ithemba elizukileyo labo bonke abathandi bobulungisa.—Mateyu 12:18, 21.
9, 10. Ngeminyaka yee-1920, kwafundwa ntoni ngoBukumkani neentlangano ezimbini ezisukuzanayo, yaye kuye kwaba luncedo njani oku?
9 Kwindibano eyayiseCedar Point ngowe-1922, isithethi esiyintloko, uJ. F. Rutherford, wabongoza abantu bakaThixo ukuba ‘babhengeze, babhengeze, babhengeze uKumkani nobukumkani bakhe.’ Kwinqaku elalisithi “Ukuzalwa Kohlanga,” elapapashwa kwiMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaMatshi 1, 1925, kwanikelwa ingqalelo ekuqondeni kokomoya ngokuphathelele iziprofeto ezalatha phambili ekumiselweni koBukumkani bukaThixo ngowe-1914. Ngeminyaka yee-1920 kwaqondwa ukuba kukho iintlangano ezimbini ezisukuzanayo—ekaYehova nekaSathana. Umlo uyaqhubeka phakathi kwazo, yaye siya koyisa kuphela ukuba sihambisana nentlangano kaYehova.
10 Kuye kwasinceda njani oko kukhanya kokomoya? Ekubeni uBukumkani bukaThixo noKumkani uYesu Kristu bengeyonxalenye yehlabathi, nathi asiyonxalenye yalo. Ngokuhlala sahlukile ehlabathini sibonisa ukuba sikwicala lenyaniso. (Yohane 17:16; 18:37) Xa sikhangela iingxaki ezinzima ezibhuqa le nkqubo ingendawo, hayi indlela esinombulelo ngayo kukuba singeyonxalenye yentlangano kaSathana! Yaye hayi indlela esinelungelo ngayo ngokuba sikhuselekile ngokomoya phakathi kwentlangano kaYehova!
11. Liliphi igama leZibhalo elamkelwa ngabantu bakaThixo ngowe-1931?
11 Kwindibano eyayiseColumbus, eOhio, ngowe-1931, kwasetyenziswa uIsaya 43:10-12 ngendlela efanelekileyo. ABafundi BeBhayibhile bamkela igama elikhethekileyo elithi amaNgqina kaYehova. Elinjani lona ilungelo lokwazisa igama likaThixo kwabanye ukuze bakwazi ukubiza kulo ukuze basindiswe!—INdumiso 83:18; Roma 10:13.
12. Kukuphi ukukhanya kokomoya okwanikelwa ngowe-1935 ngokuphathelele isihlwele esikhulu?
12 Ngaphambi kweminyaka yee-1930, abantu bakaThixo abaninzi babengaqinisekanga ngandlel’ ithile ngethemba labo lekamva. Bambi babecinga ngobomi basezulwini kodwa bachulumanca bakuva iimfundiso zeBhayibhile ezithetha ngeparadesi esemhlabeni. Kwindibano eyayiseWashington, D.C., ngowe-1935, kwabangel’ imincili ukuva ukuba indimbane enkulu, okanye isihlwele esikhulu, seSityhilelo isahluko 7 ludidi olunethemba lasemhlabeni. Ukususela ngoko, ukuhlanganiswa kwesihlwele esikhulu kuye kwahambela phambili ngesantya esikhulu. Ngaba asinambulelo kuba isihlwele esikhulu singeyomfihlelo kuthi? Ukuzaliseka kokuhlanganiswa kwabantu ngamanani amakhulu bevela kuzo zonke iintlanga, izizwe neelwimi kusishukumisela ukuba sisebenze ngamandla njengoko sihambisana nentlangano kaYehova.
13. Yiyiphi imbambano enkulu eyabalaseliswa kwindibano eyayiseSt. Louis ngowe-1941?
13 Imbambano enkulu efanele ixhalabise ibutho labantu yabalaseliswa kwindibano eyayiseSt. Louis, eMissouri, ngowe-1941. Loo mbambano iphathelele ulawulo okanye ulongamo lwendalo iphela. Le yimbambano emele izinziswe kungekudala, yaye ayifikanga igalelekile imini enkulu neyoyikekayo yokuba kwenzeke oko! Enye into eyaziswa engqalelweni ngowe-1941 yimbambano enxibelelene nale yokugcinwa kwengqibelelo, esinik’ ithuba lokubonisa ukuba simi phi njengabantu ngabanye ngokuphathelele ulongamo lukaThixo.
14. Kwindibano yezizwe ngezizwe yowe-1950, yintoni eyafundwayo ngeenkosana ekuthethwe ngazo kuIsaya 32:1, 2?
14 Kwindibano yezizwe ngezizwe eyayikwisiXeko saseNew York, ngowe-1950, iinkosana ekuthethwe ngazo kuIsaya 32:1, 2 zachazwa ngokucacileyo. Yaba sisihlandlo esichulumancisayo xa uMzalwan’ uFrederick Franz wayethetha ngalo mbandela waza wachaza ukuba iinkosana zehlabathi elitsha ziphakathi kwethu. Kuloo ndibano nakwezinye ezalandelayo, bekukho imitha emininzi yokukhanya kokomoya. (INdumiso 97:11) Hayi indlela esinombulelo ngayo kukuba umendo wethu “unjengokukhanya okuqaqambileyo okuya kukhanya ngokukhanya de kube semini emaqanda”!
Ukuhambela Phambili Nobulungiseleli Bethu
15, 16. (a) Sahambela phambili njani kubulungiseleli bethu ebudeni beminyaka yee-1920 neyee-1930? (b) Ziziphi iimpapasho eziye zalukhuthazo kubulungiseleli bobuKristu kumashumi eminyaka akutshanje?
15 Indlela yesibini eye yahambela phambili ngayo intlangano kaYehova iphathelelene nomsebenzi wethu ophambili—ukushumayela ngoBukumkani nokwenza abafundi. (Mateyu 28:19, 20; Marko 13:10) Ukuze kuphunyezwe lo msebenzi intlangano ibisoloko ibethelela ukubaluleka kokwandisa ubulungiseleli bethu. Ngowe-1922 onke amaKristu akhuthazwa ukuba abe nesabelo kumsebenzi wokushumayela. Kwakuxhomekeke kumntu ngamnye ukuba akhanyise ukhanyiselo lwakhe aze ngaloo ndlela abe nesabelo ngokobuqu ekunikeleni ubungqina ngenyaniso. (Mateyu 5:14-16) Ngowe-1927 kwathatyathwa amanyathelo okubekela usuku lwangeCawa ecaleni njengosuku lobulungiseleli basentsimini. Ukususela ngoFebruwari 1940, kwaba yinto eqhelekileyo ukubona amaNgqina ezitratweni kwimimandla enamashishini ehambisa IMboniselo neConsolation (ngoku ebizwa ngokuba nguVukani!).
16 Ngonyaka we-1937 kwakhutshwa incwadana ethi Model Study, eyayibethelela imfuneko yokwenza amabuyelo ukuze kufundiswe abanye inyaniso yeBhayibhile. Kwiminyaka eyalandelayo, kwabethelelwa kakhulu umsebenzi wokuqhuba izifundo zeBhayibhile. Kwanikelwa ukhuthazo kule nkalo yobulungiseleli ngokupapashwa kwencwadi ethi “UThixo Makabe Nenyaniso” ngowe-1946 nethi INyaniso eKhokelela kuBomi obungunaPhakade ngowe-1968. Ngoku, sisebenzisa incwadi ethi Ulwazi Olukhokelela Kubomi Obungunaphakade. Ukuxutyushwa kwemibandela ekwezo ncwadi kubeka isiseko seZibhalo esiluqilima sokwenza abafundi.
Ukuhambela Phambili Nohlengahlengiso Kwiinkqubo Zentlangano
17. Ngokuvisisana noIsaya 60:17, iye yahambela phambili njani intlangano kaYehova?
17 Indlela yesithathu eye intlangano kaYehova yahambela phambili ngayo inokuthanani nohlengahlengiso kwiinkqubo zentlangano. Ngokutsho kukaIsaya 60:17, uYehova wathembisa esithi: “Esikhundleni sobhedu ndiya kuzisa igolide, esikhundleni sentsimbi ndizise isilivere, esikhundleni somthi ubhedu, esikhundleni samatye intsimbi; yaye ndiya kumisela uxolo lube ngabaveleli bakho nobulungisa bube ngabaphathi bakho.” Ngokuvisisana nesi siprofeto, kuye kwathatyathwa amanyathelo okuphucula indlela yokongamela umsebenzi wokushumayela uBukumkani nokwalusa umhlambi.
18, 19. Luluphi uhlengahlengiso oluye lwenziwa kwiinkqubo zentlangano ukutyhubela iminyaka?
18 Ngowe-1919 kwamiselwa umalathisi wenkonzo kwibandla ngalinye elalicele ukulungelelaniselwa inkonzo yasentsimini. Oku kwaba lukhuthazo kubulungiseleli bethu basentsimini. Ukunyulwa kwabadala nabadikoni kwayekwa ngowe-1932, okwaphawula ukuyeka kwethu ukusebenzisa inkqubo yedemokhrasi. Kwathatyathwa elinye inyathelo eliphawulekayo ngowe-1938 xa zonke izicaka zebandla zaqalisa ukumiselwa ngokuvisisana nelungiselelo lobuthixo lokumisela elalisetyenziswa kwibandla lamaKristu okuqala. (IZenzo 14:23; 1 Timoti 4:14) Ngowe-1972 abaveleli nezicaka zolungiselelo babemiselwa ukuba bakhonze, ngendlela awayesenza ngayo amadoda afana nabo phakathi kwamaKristu okuqala. Kunokuba kubekho indoda enye ekhonza njengomveleli webandla, amaFilipi 1:1 nezinye izibhalo zibonisa ukuba abo bayifikelelayo imilinganiselo yeZibhalo emiselwe abaveleli babumba iqumrhu labadala.—IZenzo 20:28; Efese 4:11, 12.
19 Ngowe-1975 kwaqaliswa ilungiselelo lokuba iikomiti zeQumrhu Elilawulayo lamaNgqina kaYehova zalathise umsebenzi wentlangano kaThixo ehlabathini lonke. Kwamiselwa iiKomiti zamaSebe ukuba zalathise umsebenzi kwiintsimi zawo. Ukususela ngoko, kuye kwanikelwa ingqalelo ekwenzeni lula umsebenzi kwikomkhulu nakumasebe eWatch Tower Society ukuze ‘kuqinisekwe ngezinto ezibaluleke ngakumbi.’ (Filipi 1:9, 10) Imbopheleleko esemagxeni abalusi abangaphantsi kukaKristu iquka ukukhokela kumsebenzi wokushumayela, ukufundisa ebandleni nokwalusa umhlambi kaThixo ngendlela efanelekileyo.—1 Timoti 4:16; Hebhere 13:7, 17; 1 Petros 5:2, 3.
Ukhokelo LukaYesu
20. Ukuze sihambisane nentlangano kaYehova yintoni ekufuneka siyiqonde ngesigxina anaso uYesu?
20 Ukuze sihambisane nentlangano kaYehova ehambela phambili kufuneka siqonde indima kaYesu Kristu ayabelwe nguThixo ‘njengentloko yebandla.’ (Efese 5:22, 23) Okunye esikuphawulayo, nguIsaya 55:4, apho sixelelwa oku: “Khangelani! [Mna Yehova] ndimnike ukuba abe lingqina kumaqela eentlanga, inkokeli nomphathi wamaqela eentlanga.” Ngokuqinisekileyo uYesu uyakwazi ukukhokela. Uyazazi nezimvu zakhe nezenzo zazo. Eneneni, xa wayehlola amabandla asixhenxe aseAsia Minor, izihlandlo ezihlanu wathi: “Ndiyazazi izenzo zakho.” (ISityhilelo 2:2, 19; 3:1, 8, 15) UYesu uyazazi neentswelo zethu, njengoYise, uYehova. Ngaphambi kokuba enze uMthandazo Ongumzekelo, uYesu wathi: “UThixo uYihlo uyakwazi enikusweleyo ningekamceli.”—Mateyu 6:8-13.
21. Lubonakala njani ulawulo lukaYesu kwibandla lobuKristu?
21 Lubonakala njani ukhokelo lukaYesu? Enye indlela olubonakala ngayo ngabaveleli abangamaKristu, “izipho ezingabantu.” (Efese 4:8) ISityhilelo 1:16 sichaza abaveleli abathanjisiweyo njengabakwisandla sikaKristu sasekunene, phantsi kolawulo lwakhe. Namhlanje, uYesu walathisa ilungiselelo labadala, enoba loo madoda anethemba lasezulwini okanye lasemhlabeni. Njengoko kuchaziwe kwinqaku elingaphambili, amiselwa ngomoya oyingcwele ngokuvisisana nemilinganiselo yeZibhalo. (1 Timoti 3:1-7; Tito 1:5-9) Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, iqela lamadoda amakhulu aseYerusalem labumba iqumrhu elilawulayo elalisongamela amabandla nomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani ngokubanzi. Kwenziwa okufanayo kwintlangano kaYehova namhlanje.
Hambisana Nentlangano!
22. Luluphi uncedo olunikelwa liQumrhu Elilawulayo?
22 Izilangazelelo zoBukumkani emhlabeni ziye zaphathiswa ‘ikhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi,’ elimelwa liQumrhu Elilawulayo lamaNgqina kaYehova. (Mateyu 24:45-47) IQumrhu Elilawulayo ngokuyintloko lixhalabele ukunikela uyalelo nolwalathiso lokomoya kwibandla lobuKristu. (IZenzo 6:1-6) Noko ke, xa abanye abanquli bechatshazelwa ziintlekele zemvelo, iQumrhu Elilawulayo licela uthunywashe osemthethweni omnye okanye abangaphezulu ukuze banikele uncedo, balungise okanye babuyisele amakhaya onakeleyo neeHolo zoBukumkani. Ukuba amaKristu athile aye aphathwa ngendlela engqwabalala okanye atshutshiswa, kuthatyathwa amanyathelo okuwakha ngokomoya. “Nangexesha lenkathazo,” kwenziwa konke okusemandleni ukuze umsebenzi wokushumayela uqhubeke uhambela phambili.—2 Timoti 4:1, 2.
23, 24. Enoba behlelwa yintoni abantu bakhe, yintoni enikelwa nguYehova ngokuthe rhoqo, yaye yintoni esifanele sizimisele ukuyenza?
23 Enoba behlelwa yintoni abantu bakhe, uYehova ubanika ukutya kokomoya nolwalathiso olufunekayo ngokuthe rhoqo. UThixo unikela ukuqonda kubazalwana abaphathiswe imbopheleleko ukuze balungiselele inkqubela engakumbi nohlengahlengiso kwiinkqubo zobuthixo zentlangano. (Duteronomi 34:9; Efese 1:16, 17) UYehova ulungiselela oko kufunekayo ukuze siphumeze uthumo lwethu lokwenza abafundi nokufeza ubulungiseleli bethu emhlabeni wonke.—2 Timoti 4:5.
24 Sinentembelo epheleleyo yokuba uYehova akayi kuze abashiye abantu bakhe abathembekileyo; uya kubahlangula ukutyhubela ‘imbandezelo enkulu,’ ezayo. (ISityhilelo 7:9-14; INdumiso 94:14; 2 Petros 2:9) Sinezizathu ezibambekayo zokulondoloza intembelo esasinayo kuqala de kuse ekupheleni. (Hebhere 3:14) Ngoko ke, masizimisele ukuhambisana nentlangano kaYehova.
Ubuya Kuphendula Uthini?
• Kutheni sinokuthi intlangano kaYehova ihambela phambili ngokuqhubekayo?
• Bubuphi ubungqina esinabo bokuba abantu bakaThixo bafumana ukukhanya kokomoya ngokuqhubekayo?
• Buye baphuculwa njani ubulungiseleli bobuKristu?
• Luluphi uhlengahlengiso olwenziwa ngexesha elifanelekileyo kwiinkqubo zentlangano phakathi kwabakhonzi bakaYehova?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 17]
NjengoDavide, asinakuyichaza yonke imisebenzi emihle kaYehova
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 18]
Umhlambi kaThixo uye wangenelwa kuhlengahlengiso olwenziwa ngexesha elifanelekileyo kwiinkqubo zentlangano