Izithunywa Zevangeli Amanxusa Okukhanya Noma Obumnyama?— Ingxenye 6

Ukwenza Abafundi Beqiniso Namuhla

UJESU KRISTU wayala: “Ngalokho hambani nenze izizwe zonke abafundi, nibabhapathize.” (Mathewu 28:19) I-Everyman’s Encyclopedia ithi lokhu kuthunywa “kuye kwafezwa amaKristu kuwo wonke umlando,” nakuba inezela ngokuthi, “ngezinye izikhathi kuye kwafezwa ngentshiseko encane.” Incwadi ethi The Missionary Myth iyabuza: “Isiphelile yini inkathi yezithunywa zevangeli?”

Ngo-January kulonyaka, umagazini i-Newsweek wabika: “UPapa John Paul II uyisa ubuRoma Katolika emigwaqweni.” Lomagazini wachaza: “Uthumela abavangeli abavamile abangu-350 ukuba bayoguqula abantu ema-disco, emakethe, naseziteshini ezingaphansi komhlaba eRome. Lomkhankaso wokuhlola uqala ngoLwesithathu Lomlotha (Feb. 16). Uma uphumelela, upapa uzobathumela emhlabeni wonke—isinyathelo esingabangela ukuba izithunywa zevangeli ezingamaKatolika zihambe indlu ngendlu ukusuka eBuenos Aires kuya eTokyo.”

Ngakolunye uhlangothi, sekuyisikhathi eside oFakazi BakaJehova besiqonda isibopho sabo sokwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela ivangeli. (2 Thimothewu 4:5) Yiqiniso, akubona bonke abashumayela njengezithunywa zevangeli ezikwamanye amazwe. Kodwa bangashumayela—futhi bayashumayela—lapho bekhona. Ngalomqondo, bonke bayizithunywa zevangeli.

Isikole Esikhethekile

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1940, i-Watch Tower Society yamisa isikole sokuqeqesha izikhonzi ezinokuhlangenwe nakho ukuze zikhonze njengezithunywa zevangeli kwamanye amazwe lapho usizo lwaludingeka khona ngokushesha. Phakathi neminyaka edlule izifundo ziye zathuthukiswa, kodwa azizange ziphambuke emgomweni wazo oyinhloko wokugcizelela isifundo seBhayibheli nokufeza umsebenzi obalulekile wokushumayela ivangeli.

Lesisikole esisha saqokelwa igama elithi Gileyadi, ngesiHeberu okusho ukuthi “Inqwaba Yobufakazi.” Ngokusiza ekuqongeleleni inqwaba yobufakazi bokudumisa uJehova, iGileyadi iye yaba nendima ebaluleke kakhulu ekufezeni umsebenzi wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke uJesu abikezela ukuthi wawuyokwenziwa osukwini lwethu.—Mathewu 24:14.

Ekhuluma nekilasi lokuqala laseSikoleni SaseGileyadi ngo-1943, uNathan H. Knorr, owayengumongameli we-Watch Tower Society ngalesosikhathi, wathi: “Niwuhlonyiselwa ngokwengeziwe umsebenzi onjengowomphostoli uPawulu, uMarku, uThimothewu, nabanye abaya kuzo zonke izingxenye zoMbuso WaseRoma bememezela isigijimi soMbuso. . . . Umsebenzi wenu oyinhloko uwukushumayela ivangeli loMbuso endlini ngendlu njengoba kwenza uJesu nabaphostoli bakhe.”

Lapho ikilasi lokuqala liphothula, abathweswe iziqu bathunyelwa njengezithunywa zevangeli emazweni angu-9 aseLatin America. Kuze kube manje, abafundi abangaphezu kuka-6 500 basemazweni angaphezu kuka-110 baye baqeqeshwa eSikoleni SaseGileyadi futhi baye bathunyelwa emazweni naseziqhingini ezingaphezu kuka-200.

Izithunywa Zevangeli Ezihlukahlukene

Izihloko ezandulele kuloluchungechunge zakhuluma ngomsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa esikhathini esidlule. Eziningi, njengalezo ezathunyelwa eGreenland, zahumushela iBhayibheli lilonke noma ingxenye yalo ezilimini zabomdabu. Nokho, lezozithunywa zevangeli zakuqala ngokuvamile zazinezithakazelo eziphambene nokufundisa abantu iBhayibheli.

Ngokwesibonelo, izithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa ezathunyelwa eJapane zazihileleke “ezikhungweni zezemfundo nasezikoleni,” kuphawula i-Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan. Ithi: “Izithunywa zevangeli eziningi ziye zazenza zavelela ngokwemfundo yazo.” Zaba izazi zezilimi noma oprofesa, zafundisa izifundo ezinjengokulotshwa kwezincwadi, ulimi, umlando, ifilosofi, izinkolo zaseMpumalanga Asia, nezinganekwane zaseJapane. Le-encyclopedia iyanezela: “Izikhungo zokusiza abaswele nezezenhlalakahle nazo zaziyingxenye ebalulekile yomsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli.”

Iningi lezithunywa zevangeli lalingakubheki njengento eza kuqala ukushunyayelwa kwevangeli. Lalivame ukugcizelela ukwanelisa izidingo ezingokwenyama kunokwanelisa izidingo ezingokomoya. Lagxila ekuphishekeleni izithakazelo zomuntu siqu. Ngakho, esinye isithunywa sevangeli seSonto LaseSheshi esathunyelwa eJapane ngo-1889 namuhla saziwa kakhulu ngokuthi “umsunguli wokuqombola izintaba eJapane.”

Izithunywa zevangeli eziqeqeshwe eGileyadi zihluke kakhulu kwezeLobukholwa. Incwadi ethi OFakazi BakaJehova—Abamemezeli BoMbuso KaNkulunkulu, isahluko 23, iyaphawula: ‘Abathweswe iziqu abayizithunywa zevangeli zaseSikoleni SaseGileyadi bafundisa abantu iBhayibheli. Esikhundleni sokwakha amasonto bese belindela ukuba abantu beze kubo, baya endlini ngendlu . . . , hhayi ukuze bakhonzwe, kodwa ukuze bakhonze.’

Uye Waba Yini Umphumela?

Ngemva kwesikhathi eside sokwenza abafundi abangamaKristu eYurophu, ziye zaphumelela kangakanani izithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa? Incwadi ethi A Global View of Christian Missions iyaphendula: “Abantu baseYurophu abalinganiselwa ezigidini ezingu-160 bathi abanankolo. Phakathi kwalabo abathi basathembekile ebuKristwini bambalwa abayithatha ngokungathi sína inkolo yabo. . . . Akufanele ngempela ukuba iYurophu ibizwe ngokuthi izwekazi lobuKristu.”

Kuthiwani ngesimo sase-Asia? I-Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan iyaphendula: “Ngokombono wabantu ubuKristu busabhekwa ngokuthi ukholo ‘lwakwamanye amazwe,’ . . . olungabafanele abantu abavamile baseJapane. . . . Inhlangano yobuKristu iphelela ngaphandle komngcele womphakathi waseJapane.” Ngempela, abantu abathi bangamaKristu eJapane bangaphansi kwamaphesenti amane, eNdiya bangaphansi kwamaphesenti amathathu, ePakistan bangaphansi kwamaphesenti amabili, futhi eChina bangaphansi kwengxenye yephesenti.

Ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka omsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa e-Afrika, siyini isimo lapho? Embikweni othile okhuluma ngomhlangano wababhishobhi base-Afrika owawuqhutshelwa eRome kulentwasahlobo, umagazini wesiJalimane i-Focus wabika: “Izinkolo zase-Afrika akusafanele zilahlwe njengezamaqaba akhulekela izithombe. Incwadi ethile engokomthetho, nakuba ingakanyatheliswa, ibeka ‘izinkolo zase-Afrika ezigcina amasiko’ ezingeni lokuba abangane abafanelekayo nababalulekile. Amalungu azo kufanele ahlonishwe. Isigungu sabefundisi saqaphela ukuthi izinkolo ngaphambili ezazilahlwe ngokuthi zikhulekela izithombe ‘ngokuvamile zinquma indlela yokuphila ngisho neyomKatolika okholwe kakhulu.’”a

Ngemva kwesikhathi esingamakhulu eminyaka sokwenza abafundi abangamaKristu eNyakatho naseNtshonalanga Melika, ziye zaphumelela kangakanani izithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa? Incwadi ethi Mission to the World iyaphendula: “‘ILatin America’ isafanelwe ukubizwa ngesiqu esithi ‘izwekazi elinganakiwe’ naphezu kwentuthuko enkulu yomsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli emashumini eminyaka amuva nje.” Ngokuqondene ne-United States, i-Newsweek iphawula ukuthi ukuhlola kwamuva “kubonisa ukuthi nakuba inkolo ithe chithí saka ezweni laseMelika, bayingcosana nje abayithatha ngokungathi sína. . . . Ingxenye yabantu etshela abahloli ukuthi ngeSonto ichitha isikhathi sayo esontweni iqamba amanga. . . . Cishe ingxenye yesithathu yamaMelika aneminyaka engu-18 nangaphezulu ibonakala ingenasithakazelo enkolweni . . . Amaphesenti angu-19 kuphela . . . akusebenzisa njalo akufundiswa inkolo yawo.”

Ngamafuphi, emizamweni yazo yokudambisa izinkinga zobumpofu, ukugula, nokuntuleka kwemfundo, izithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa, njengeqembu, ziye zasekela amasu abantu aye aletha usizo lwesikhashana futhi olukhethayo. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, izithunywa zevangeli ezingamaKristu eqiniso ziqondisa abantu eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu omisiwe, oyoletha usizo oluphelele noluhlala njalo. Ngeke nje udambise izinkinga; uyozixazulula. Yebo, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyolethela isintu impilo ephelele, ukulondeka kwangempela ngokwezomnotho, amathuba angapheli omsebenzi okhiqizayo kubo bonke, nokuphila okungenakuphela!—IHubo 37:9-11, 29; Isaya 33:24; 35:5, 6; 65:21-23; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4.

Izithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa zingase zibhekisele kulabo abathi bangamaKristu abaya ngezikhathi ezithile ezinkonzweni zenkolo njengobufakazi bokuthi ziye zenza ‘izizwe zonke abafundi, zababhapathiza.’ Kodwa amaqiniso abonisa ukuthi lezizithunywa zevangeli ziye zehluleka ukufundisa lababantu ababhapathiziwe ‘ukugcina konke uJesu ayala ngakho.’—Mathewu 28:19, 20.

Nokho, umsebenzi wokufundisa wamaKristu eqiniso uyoqhubekela ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu. Uyofinyelela izigidi zabantu abavusiwe abayodinga ukufundiswa ngezindlela zikaNkulunkulu. Khona-ke, ngaphandle kokuphazamisa kukaSathane, amaKristu ayoba nelungelo elijabulisayo lokuqhubeka enza abafundi—njengoba nje ebelokhu enza amashumi eminyaka.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 24]

Indlela Ezisize Ngayo Abantu

Okulandelayo amazwi alabo abaye bazuza osizweni lwezithunywa zevangeli eziqeqeshwe eGileyadi.

“Kwangimangalisa ukunamathela kwazo, zibekezelela izinto eziningi kangaka ezihlukile kwezamazwe ezivela kuwo: isimo sezulu, izilimi, amasiko, ukudla, nezinkolo. Kodwa zahlala ezabelweni zazo, ezinye kwaze kwaba sekufeni. Imikhuba yazo emihle yokutadisha nentshiseko enkonzweni kwangisiza ukuba ngihlakulele izinto ezifanayo.”—J. A., India.

“Ngahlatshwa umxhwele ukugcina isikhathi kwesithunywa sevangeli lapho singiqhubela isifundo. Sabonisa ukuzithiba okuphawulekayo ekubekezeleleni ukubandlulula nokungabi nalwazi kwami.”—P. T., Thailand.

“Mina nomkami sabazisa ubumsulwa obaboniswa izithunywa zevangeli ezingoFakazi. Intshiseko yazo yasenza ukuba siyenze umgomo wethu inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, futhi namuhla siyajabula ngoba nathi siyizithunywa zevangeli.”—A. C., Mozambique.

“Ukuphila kwami kwakunobugovu. Ukuhlangana nezithunywa zevangeli kwanginikeza amandla engangiwadinga ukuze ngikushintshe. Kuzo angizange ngibone injabulo yangaphandle kodwa ngabona injabulo yangempela.”—J. K., Japan.

“Izithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa zaziphila ukuphila kokunethezeka. Izisebenzi zazihlanza indlu, zipheke, ziwashe izingubo, zinakekele ingadi, futhi zizishayelele izimoto. Ngabamba ongezansi lapho ngibona izithunywa zevangeli zaseGileyadi zizenzela ngokuphumelelayo umsebenzi wasendlini, kuyilapho futhi zisiza abantu bendawo ukuba bafunde ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.”—S. D., Thailand.

“Odade abayizithunywa zevangeli babegibela amabhayisikili ukuze bavakashele abantu ngisho noma izinga lokushisa lenyuke laba ngaphezu kwama-degree Fahrenheit angu-115 [46° C.]. Ukungenisa kwabo izihambi nokungakhethi, kanye nokukhuthazela kwabo, kwangisiza ukuba ngibone iqiniso.”—V. H., India.

“Izithunywa zevangeli azizange ziziphakamise. Ngokuzithoba zazivumelanisa nabantu bendawo nezimo eziphansi zokuphila. Zazifikele ukukhonza, ngakho azikaze zikhononde kodwa ngaso sonke isikhathi zazibonakala zijabule futhi zanelisekile.”—C. P., Thailand.

“Azizange zililulaze iqiniso leBhayibheli. Noma kunjalo, azizange zibenze abantu bendawo babe nomuzwa wokuthi zazingalungile zonke izici zamasiko abo noma ukuthi kumelwe bamukele izindlela zaseNtshonalanga. Azikaze zenze abanye bazizwe bengaphansi kwazo noma bengafaneleki.”—A. D., Papua New Guinea.

“Ngokungafani nezithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa, wayezimisele ukuhlala phansi ephambanise imilenze, ngendlela yaseKorea, lapho sifunda iBhayibheli. Wayezimisele ukudla ukudla kwethu kwaseKorea. Umuzwa wokusondelana ngokomzwelo wangisiza ukuba ngithuthuke.”—S. K., Korea.

“Ngangineminyaka eyishumi ubudala futhi ngiphuma emini yantambama esikoleni. Isithunywa sevangeli esithile sangimema ukuba ngihambe naso enkonzweni yasensimini ntambama. Sangifundisa izimiso zeBhayibheli eziningi futhi sagxilisa kimi ukuyazisa ngempela inhlangano kaJehova.”—R. G., Colombia.

“Zangifundisa ukunamathela ezabelweni, ukwenza lokho okudingekayo ngaphandle kokukhononda. Ngibonga uJehova noJesu Kristu ngayo yonke inhliziyo yami ngokusithumelela lezizithunywa zevangeli.”—K. S., Japan.

[Isithombe ekhasini 23]

Izithunywa zevangeli eziqeqeshwe eGileyadi zasemazweni angu-16 zilandisa okuhlangenwe nakho emhlanganweni wamuva nje