Isahlulelo SikaNkulunkulu ‘Kumuntu Ongenamthetho’
“Yilowo nalowomuthi ongatheli izithelo ezinhle uyanqunywa, uphonswe emlilweni.”—MATHEWU 7:19.
1, 2. Uyini umuntu ongenamthetho, futhi waba khona kanjani?
LAPHO umphostoli uPawulu ephefumlelwa uNkulunkulu ukuba abikezele ngokuza ‘komuntu ongenamthetho,’ wathi wayeseqala ukuvela ngisho nasosukwini lwakhe. Njengoba isihloko esandulelayo sichazile, uPawulu wayekhuluma ngesigaba sabantu ababeyohola ekuhlubukeni ebuKristwini beqiniso. Lokho kufulathela iqiniso kwaqala ngasekupheleni kwekhulu leminyaka lokuqala, ikakhulukazi ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli bokugcina. Isigaba esingenamthetho sangenisa izimfundiso nemikhuba eyayiphikisana neZwi likaNkulunkulu.—2 Thesalonika 2:3, 7; IzEnzo 20:29, 30; 2 Thimothewu 3:16, 17; 4:3, 4.
2 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, lesigaba esingenamthetho sakhula saba abefundisi beLobukholwa. Amandla aso aqiniswa ngumbusi wamaRoma uConstantine ngekhulu leminyaka lesine lapho amasonto ezihlubuki eshadiswa noMbuso wobuqaba. Njengoba eLobukholwa laliqhubeka lihlukana phakathi liba amahlelo amaningi, abefundisi baqhubeka beziphakamisa ngaphezu kwabantu abavamile futhi ngokuvamile nangaphezu kwababusi bezwe.—2 Thesalonika 2:4.
3. Siyoba yini isiphetho somuntu ongenamthetho?
3 Sasiyoba yini isiphetho salomuntu ongenamthetho? UPawulu wabikezela: “Uzakwambulwa lowo ongenamthetho, eyakumqeda iNkosi uJesu . . . imchithe ngokubonakala kokufika kwayo.” (2 Thesalonika 2:8) Lokhu kusho ukuthi ukubhujiswa kwabefundisi kuyokwenzeka lapho uNkulunkulu eqeda sonke isimiso sikaSathane. UNkulunkulu usebenzisa iNkosi yakhe yasezulwini, uKristu Jesu, ukuba ihole amabutho abhubhisayo ezingelosi. (2 Thesalonika 1:6-9; IsAmbulo 19:11-21) Lesiphetho silindele abefundisi ngoba baye badelela uNkulunkulu noKristu futhi baye baphambukisa izigidi zabantu ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso.
4. Yisiphi isimiso umuntu ongenamthetho ayokwahlulelwa ngaso?
4 UJesu wanikeza isimiso umuntu ongenamthetho ayokwahlulelwa ngaso, ethi: “Xwayani abaprofethi bamanga abeza kini bembathisé okwezimvu, kepha ngaphakathi bayizimpisi eziphangayo. Niyakubazi ngezithelo zabo. Kungakhiwa yini izithelo zomvini emeveni noma amakhiwane ekhakhasini na? Kanjalo yilowo nalowomuthi omuhle uthela izithelo ezinhle, kepha umuthi omubi uthela izithelo ezimbi. Umuthi omuhle ungethele izithelo ezimbi nomuthi omubi ungethele izithelo ezinhle. Yilowo nalowomuthi ongatheli izithelo ezinhle uyanqunywa, uphonswe emlilweni. . . . Asibo bonke abashoyo kimi ukuthi: Nkosi, Nkosi, abayakungena embusweni wezulu, kuphela owenza intando kaBaba osezulwini.”—Mathewu 7:15-21; bheka futhi uThithu 1:16; 1 Johane 2:17.
Izithelo Ezinhle ZobuKristu
5. Siyini isisekelo sezithelo ezinhle zobuKristu, futhi uthini umyalo oyisisekelo?
5 Isisekelo sesithelo esihle sobuKristu siphawulwe kweyoku-1 Johane 5:3, ethi: “Ngokuba ukuthanda uNkulunkulu yilokhu ukuba sigcine imiyalo yakhe.” Futhi umyalo oyisisekelo yilona: “Wothanda umakhelwane wakho njengalokhu uzithanda wena.” (Mathewu 22:39) Ngakho, izinceku zeqiniso zikaNkulunkulu kumelwe zibe nothando ngomakhelwane bazo kungakhathaliseki ukuthi baluhlanga luni noma basizwe sini.—Mathewu 5:43-48; Roma 12:17-21.
6. Uthando lobuKristu kumelwe luboniswe kobani ngokukhethekile?
6 Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kumelwe zibe nothando ikakhulukazi ngalabo abangabazalwane bazo abangokomoya. “Uma umuntu esho ukuthi: Ngiyamthanda uNkulunkulu, kepha ezonda umzalwane wakhe, ungumqambimanga; ngokuba ongathandi umzalwane wakhe ambonileyo angemthande uNkulunkulu angambonanga. Yebo, lomyalo sinawo, uvela kuNkulunkulu, wokuthi othanda uNkulunkulu makathande nomzalwane wakhe.” (1 Johane 4:20, 21) UJesu wathi lolothando lwaluyoba uphawu olubonakalisa amaKristu eqiniso: “Ngalokho bonke bayakukwazi ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma nithandana.”—Johane 13:35; bheka namaRoma 14:19; Galathiya 6:10; 1 Johane 3:10-12.
7. AmaKristu eqiniso aboshwe kanjani ndawonye emhlabeni wonke?
7 Uthando lobuzalwane ‘luyinhlaka’ ebopha izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ngobunye: “Yembathani uthando oluyisibopho sokuphelela.” (Kolose 3:14) Futhi amaKristu eqiniso kumelwe abe nobunye nabafowabo emhlabeni wonke, ngoba iZwi likaNkulunkulu liyayala: “Nikhulume-zwilinye . . . kungabikho ukwahlukana phakathi kwenu . . . nipheleliswe emqondweni munye nasekuboneni kunye.” (1 Korinte 1:10) Ukuze zilondoloze loluthando nalobubunye ngezinga lomhlaba wonke, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kumelwe zingathathi-hlangothi ezindabeni zezombangazwe zalelizwe. UJesu wathi: “Abasibo abezwe, njengalokhu nami angisiye owezwe.”—Johane 17:16.
8. UJesu wakubonisa kanjani lokho amaKristu okumelwe akwenze?
8 UJesu wabonisa izinga lalokho ayekucabanga lapho uPetru esebenzisa inkemba yakhe ekugenceni indlebe yenye yamadoda ayezobopha uJesu. Ingabe uJesu wakukhuthaza ukusetshenziswa kwamandla okunjalo ngisho nangenjongo yokuvikela iNdodana kaNkulunkulu kubaphikisi? Cha, kodwa wathi kuPetru: “Buyisela inkemba yakho endaweni yayo.” (Mathewu 26:52) Ngakho, amaKristu eqiniso awahlanganyeli ezimpini zezizwe noma kunoma yikuphi ukuchithwa kwegazi labantu ngisho noma ukwenqaba kwawo kuphumela ekubeni abulawelwe ukholo ngenxa yokuma kwawo kokungathathi-hlangothi, njengoba amaningi eye alufela emakhulwini eminyaka adlule ngisho nasesikhathini sethu. Ayazi ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuphela ngaphansi kukaKristu oyoyiqeda phakade impi nokuchithwa kwegazi.—IHubo 46:9; Mathewu 6:9, 10; 2 Petru 3:11-13.
9. (a) Umlando usitshelani ngamaKristu okuqala? (b) Lokhu kuphambene kanjani nezinkolo zeLobukholwa?
9 Umlando ufakazela ukuthi amaKristu ekhulu leminyaka lokuqala ayengenakulichitha igazi labantu. Owayekade enguprofesa wemfundo yezenkolo waseNgilandi, uPeter De Rosa, uyabhala: “Ukuchitha igazi kwakuyisono esikhulu. Yingakho amaKristu ayemelana nomdlalo wokulwa ngenkemba. . . . Nakuba impi nokusetshenziswa kwamandla kwakudingekile ukuze kuvikelwe iRoma, amaKristu azizwa engenakukwazi ukuhlanganyela. . . . AmaKristu, njengoJesu, ayezibheka njengezithunywa zokuthula; ayengenakuba amanxusa okufa nangaphansi kwanoma yiziphi izimo.” Ngakolunye uhlangothi, izinkolo zeLobukholwa ezingenabo ubunye ziye zaphula umyalo wothando futhi ziye zachitha amathantala egazi. Azibanga izithunywa zokuthula kodwa ngokuphindaphindiwe ziye zaba amanxusa okufa.
IBabiloni Elikhulu Elinecala Legazi
10. Liyini iBabiloni Elikhulu, futhi kungani libizwa kanjalo?
10 USathane ‘ungumbusi walelizwe,’ “unkulunkulu walelizwe.” (Johane 12:31; 2 Korinte 4:4) Ingxenye yezwe likaSathane iyisimiso esisemhlabeni wonke senkolo yamanga aye wasakha amakhulu eminyaka, kuhlanganise neLobukholwa kanye nabefundisi balo. IBhayibheli libiza lesimiso sezwe lonke senkolo yamanga ngokuthi “IBABILONI ELIKHULU, UNINA WEZIFEBE [ezingokomoya] NOWAMANYALA OMHLABA.” (IsAmbulo 17:5) Umnyombo wenkolo yamanga yanamuhla usukela emuva emzini waseBabiloni wasendulo, owawucwile enkolweni yamanga nasezimfundisweni nasemikhubeni edelela uNkulunkulu. Yingakho umfuziselo weBabiloni lasendulo ubizwa ngokuthi iBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga.
11. IBhayibheli lithini ngeBabiloni Elikhulu, futhi ngani?
11 Ngokuqondene neBabiloni elingokwenkolo, iZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Kwafunyaniswa kuwe igazi labaprofethi nelabangcwele nelabo bonke ababebulewe emhlabeni.” (IsAmbulo 18:24) Kungayiphi indlela izinkolo zalelizwe zinecala legazi labo bonke ababulewe? Ngokuthi zonke lezinkolo—amasonto eLobukholwa nezinkolo ezingezona ezobuKristu ngokufanayo—ziye zasekela, zavumela, noma zahola nokuhola ezimpini zezizwe; ziye zashushisa futhi zabulala abantu abesaba uNkulunkulu abangavumelananga nazo.
Umlando Wokudelela UNkulunkulu
12. Kungani abefundisi beLobukholwa benecala ngaphezu kwabanye abaholi benkolo?
12 Abefundisi beLobukholwa banecala ngokungaphezulu ekuchitheni igazi kunabanye abaholi benkolo. Ngani? Ngoba ngaphezu kokuba bathi bangabakaNkulunkulu baye bathi futhi bangabakaKristu. Ngaleyondlela baye bazibopha ngokuthi balandela izimfundiso zikaJesu. (Johane 15:10-14) Kodwa abazilandelanga lezomfundiso, kanjalo baletha isihlamba esikhulu kokubili kuNkulunkulu nakuKristu. Icala labefundisi lokuchitha igazi liye laba ngokuqondile, eziMpini Zokholo, nakwezinye izimpi ezingokwenkolo, ekuqulweni kwamacala ezihlubuki, nasekushushiseni, nangokungaqondile, ekuthetheleleni izimpi lezo amalungu amasonto aye abulala kuzo abasonta nawo abakwamanye amazwe.
13. Abefundisi babenecala lani kusukela ekhulwini leminyaka le-11 kuya kwele-13?
13 Ngokwesibonelo, kusukela ekhulwini leminyaka le-11 kuya kwele-13, abefundisi beLobukholwa baye bangenisa iziMpi Zokholo. Lezi ziye zaphumela ekuchithekeni okubi kwegazi nasekuphangeni impahla egameni likaNkulunkulu nelikaKristu. Kwabulawa amakhulu ezinkulungwane. IziMpi Zokholo zahlanganisa nokubulawa okungenangqondo kwezinkulungwane zabantwana ababegqugquzelwe ukuba bahlanganyele eMpini Yokholo Yabantwana yonyaka ka-1212.
14, 15. Umbhali ongumKatolika uthini ngalokho isonto lamaKatolika elakungenisa ekhulwini leminyaka le-13?
14 Ngekhulu leminyaka le-13, iSonto lamaRoma Katolika lagunyaza ngokomthetho esinye isenzo esithusayo sokudelela uNkulunkulu—ukuQulwa Kwamacala Ezihlubuki. Kwaqala eYurophu futhi kwasakazekela nasemaZweni aseMelika, kwathatha amakhulu eminyaka angaphezu kwayisithupha. Kwaqaliswa futhi kwasekelwa isimiso sobupapa, kwakuwumzamo obulalayo wokuhlupha nokuqothula bonke ababengavumelani nesonto. Nakuba isonto ngaphambili laliye lashushisa abangewona amaKatolika, ukuQulwa Kwamacala Ezihlubuki kwakubanzi kakhulu.
15 UPeter De Rosa, othi ‘ungumKatolika oshisekayo,’ uthi encwadini yakhe yamuva ethi Vicars of Christ—The Dark Side of the Papacy: “Isonto lalinecala lokushushisa amaJuda, lokuQula Amacala Ezihlubuki, lokubulala amambuka ngezinkulungwane, lokuphinde lingenise ukuhlushwa eYurophu njengengxenye yenqubo yokwahlulela. . . . Opapa bamisa futhi bagudluza ngisho nababusi, bafuna ngenkani ukuba baphoqelele ubuKristu kulabo abangaphansi kwabo bebasongela ngokuhlushwa nangokufa. . . . Ukushunyayelwa kwesigijimi sevangeli kwalimala ngendlela esabekayo.” Okuwukuphela “kobugebengu” abanye ababulawelwa bona kwakuwukuthi babeneBhayibheli.
16, 17. Yikuphi ukukhulunyelwa okwenziwa ngokuQulwa Kwamacala Ezihlubuki?
16 Ngokuqondene noPapa Innocent III wasekuqaleni kwekhulu leminyaka le-13, uDe Rosa uthi: “Kuye kwacatshangwa ukuthi ekushushiseni kokugcina nokubuhlungu kunakho konke ngaphansi koMbusi [wamaRoma] uDiocletian [ngekhulu leminyaka lesithathu] kwabhubha cishe amaKristu ayizinkulungwane ezimbili, emhlabeni wonke. Esenzakalweni sokuqala esibi eMpini Yokholo kaPapa Innocent [ayeyilwa “namambuka” eFrance] kwabulawa inani labantu eliwukuphindwa kashumi kwalelo. . . . Kuyathusa ukuthola ukuthi, ngokuphazima kweso, upapa wabulala amaKristu angaphezu kwalawo abulawa uDiocletian. . . . [UInnocent] wayenganqikazi ukusebenzisa igama likaKristu ekwenzeni yonke into uKristu ayilahla.”
17 UDe Rosa uphawula ukuthi “egameni likapapa, [abaquli bamacala ezihlubuki] babenecala lokuhlasela ukuhleleka kobuntu ngonya nokwathatha isikhathi eside ukwedlula noma yikuphi emlandweni waloluhlanga.” Ekhuluma ngomquli wamacala ezihlubuki oqula amacala ezihlubuki ezingamalungu eDominican uTorquemada waseSpain, uthi: “Emiswe ngo-1483, wabusa ngobushiqela iminyaka eyishumi nanhlanu. Izisulu zakhe zabalelwa enanini elingaphezu kuka-114 000 kuzo ezingu-10 220 zashiswa.”
18. Umbhali ukuchaza kanjani ukuQulwa Kwamacala Ezihlubuki, futhi isiphi isizathu asinikezayo sokuba kuqhubeke iminyaka engaphezu kwamakhulu ayisithupha?
18 Lombhali uphetha ngokuthi: “Umlando wokuQulwa Kwamacala Ezihlubuki ungaba ngodumazayo kunoma iyiphi inhlangano; esontweni lamaKatolika, ungobhubhisayo. . . . Okuboniswa umlando ukuthi, emakhulwini eminyaka ayisithupha engenasikhawu, isimiso sobupapa sasiyisitha esikhulu semithetho eyaziwayo. Phakathi kwawopapa abangamashumi ayisishiyagalombili ohlwini kusukela ekhulwini leminyaka leshumi nantathu kuqhubeke, akukho noyedwa kubo owazwakalisa ukungahambisani nemfundiso yenkolo nokusebenza kokuQulwa Kwamacala Ezihlubuki. Ngokuphambene, omunye ngemva komunye wanezela unya lwakhe emisebenzini yalomshini obulalayo. Imfihlakalo iwukuthi: opapa babengaqhubeka kanjani nalomkhuba wokuhlubuka isizukulwane ngesizukulwane? Babengaliphika kanjani ngokuphelele iVangeli likaJesu?” Uyaphendula: “OPapa bakhetha ukuphikisa ivangeli kunomanduleli ‘ongenaphutha,’ ngoba lokho kwakuyokwehlisa isimiso sobupapa ngokwaso.”
19. Yisiphi esinye isenzo sokungabi namthetho esavunyelwa abefundisi abaningi?
19 Okunye okungenamthetho kwakuyingxenye eyadlalwa abefundisi ekuqalisweni kobugqila okunobudlova. Izizwe zeLobukholwa zathumba izinkulungwane eziningi zama-Afrika, ziwayisa kude namazwe akubo, futhi emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka zawaphatha ngesihluku ngokomzimba nangokwengqondo njengezigqila. Uma kuqhathaniswa bambalwa kakhulu abesigaba sabefundisi abamelana nakho ngokuqinile. Abanye babo baze basho nokuthi kwakuyintando kaNkulunkulu.—Bheka uMathewu 7:12.
Icala Legazi Ekhulwini Leminyaka Lama-20
20. Icala legazi lomuntu ongenamthetho liye lalifinyelela kanjani iqophelo eliphakeme kulelikhulu leminyaka?
20 Icala legazi lomuntu ongenamthetho lafinyelela iqophelo eliphakeme ekhulwini lethu leminyaka. Abefundisi baye basekela izimpi eziye zathatha ukuphila kwamashumi ezigidi, izimpi ezimbi kunazo zonke kuwo wonke umlando. Basekela zombili izinhlangothi ezimpini ezimbili zezwe, okwabulalana kuzona abantu benkolo efanayo, “abazalelwane.” Ngokwesibonelo, eMpini Yezwe II, amaKatolika aseFrance nawaseMelika abulala amaKatolika aseJalimane nawaseNtaliyane; amaProthestani aseBrithani nawaseMelika abulala amaProthestani aseJalimane. Ngezinye izikhathi, abulala abanye okwakungekhona nje ukuthi basenkolweni efanayo kodwa bangabesizinda esifanayo sesizwe. Izimpi zezwe ezimbili zaqubuka enkabeni yeLobukholwa kodwa zazingeke zibe khona ukuba abefundisi babelalele umyalo wothando, futhi bafundisa abalandeli babo ukuba benze okufanayo.
21. Izincwadi zezwe zithini ngokuhileleka kwabefundisi empini?
21 INew York Times yaqinisekisa: “Esikhathini esidlule, abefundisi bamaKatolika ngezigaba zabo cishe ngaso sonke isikhathi bebesekela izimpi zezizwe zabo, bebusisa amabutho futhi bethandazela ukunqoba, kuyilapho elinye iqembu lababhishobhi ngakolunye uhlangothi liwuthandazela obala umphumela ophambene. . . . Ukuphikisana phakathi komoya wobuKristu nesimo sempi . . . kubonakala kuba ngokucace ngokwandayo kwabaningi, njengoba izikhali ziya ziba zimbi.” Futhi iU.S.News & World Report yaphawula: “Idumela lobuKristu ezweni liye lakhinyabezwa kakhulu ukusetshenziswa njalo kobudlova yizizwe ezibizwa ngokuthi zingamaKristu.”
22. Yikuphi okunye abefundisi abanecala lakho esikhathini sethu?
22 Futhi, nakuba kungekho ukuQulwa Kwamacala Ezihlubuki okungokomthetho namuhla, abefundisi baye basebenzisa ingalo yoMbuso ukuba ishushise “abaprofethi” “nabangcwele” abahlukile kubo. Baye bacindezela ababusi bezombangazwe ukuba ‘bacebe ububi kube sengathi benziwa ngokomthetho.’ Ngalendlela, baye babangela noma bavumela ukuvinjelwa, ukuboshwa, ukushaywa, ukuhlushwa, ngisho nokufa kwabantu abesaba uNkulunkulu ekhulwini lethu leminyaka.—IsAmbulo 17:6; IHubo 94:20, The New English Bible.
Wenziwa Ukuba Alandise
23. Kungani uNkulunkulu ezokwenza umuntu ongenamthetho ukuba alandise?
23 Ngempela, enkolweni yamanga, kutholakale igazi labaprofethi, nelabangcwele, nelabo bonke abaye babulawa emhlabeni. (IsAmbulo 18:24) Njengoba ukuchithwa kwegazi okukhulu kuye kwenziwa eLobukholwa, icala labefundisi likhulu kunawo wonke. Yeka ukuthi iBhayibheli libabiza ngokufaneleke kanjani ngokuthi “umuntu ongenamthetho”! Kodwa iZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi futhi: “Ningaduki; uNkulunkulu akahlekwa. Ngokuba lokho akuhlwanyelayo umuntu, lokho wokuvuna.” (Galathiya 6:7) Ngakho uNkulunkulu uyokwenza ukuba abefundisi abangenamthetho balandise.
24. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezizamazamisa umhlaba ezizokwenzeka ngokushesha?
24 UJesu wathi: “Sukani kimi nina-benzi bokubi.” (Mathewu 7:23) Futhi wathi: “Yilowo nalowomuthi ongatheli izithelo ezinhle uyanqunywa, uphonswe emlilweni.” (Mathewu 7:19) Sisondela ngokushesha isikhathi sesiphelo esishisayo somuntu ongenamthetho, kanye nayo yonke inkolo yamanga, lapho abezombangazwe aye wafeba nabo beyomphendukela khona: “Lezi ziyakusizonda isifebe, zisenze incithakalo, sibe-yize, zidle inyama yaso, zisishise ngomlilo.” (IsAmbulo 17:16) Njengoba izenzakalo ezinjalo ezizamazamisa umhlaba zizokwenzeka ngokushesha, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kumelwe zazise abanye ngazo. Isihloko esilandelayo sizohlola indlela ebezikwenza ngayo lokhu.
Imibuzo Yokubukeza:
◻ Uyini umuntu ongenamthetho, futhi waba khona kanjani?
◻ Yiziphi izithelo ezinhle amaKritu eqiniso okumelwe azikhiqize?
◻ Lingubani iBabiloni Elikhulu, futhi linecala legazi elingakanani?
◻ Yimuphi umlando wokwedelela uNkulunkulu umuntu ongenamthetho awuqophile?
◻ UNkulunkulu uyomenza kanjani umuntu ongenamthetho ukuba alandise?
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
IziMpi Zokholo zaphumela ekuchithekeni kwegazi okwethusayo okwakwenziwa egameni likaNkulunkulu nelikaKristu
[Umthombo]
By courtesy of The British Library
[Isithombe ekhasini 19]
“Abefundisi bamaKatolika bendawo ethile ngezigaba zabo cishe ngaso sonke isikhathi basekela izimpi zezizwe zabo”
[Umthombo]
U.S. Army