Bazondelwa Ukholo Lwabo
“Niyoba izinto zokuzondwa abantu bonke ngenxa yegama lami.”—MATHEWU 10:22.
1, 2. Ingabe ungalandisa ngezinye zezenzakalo ezingokoqobo eziye zakhuthazelelwa oFakazi BakaJehova ngenxa yokwenza ngokuvumelana nezinkolelo zabo ezingokwenkolo?
UMNINISITOLO othembekile wasesiqhingini saseKrethe uboshwa kaninginingi futhi ulethwa ephindelela phambi kwezinkantolo zaseGrisi. Sekukonke udonsa iminyaka engaphezu kweyisithupha ejele, ehlukanisiwe nomkakhe nezingane zakhe ezinhlanu. EJapane umfundi oneminyaka engu-17 uyaxoshwa esikoleni, nakuba eziphethe kahle futhi ephuma phambili ekilasini akulo elinabafundi abangu-42. EFrance abantu abaningana baxoshwa isigubhukane emsebenzini, nakuba benomlando omuhle wokusebenza ngenkuthalo nangokwethembeka. Yisiphi isici esifanayo kuzo zonke lezi zenzakalo ezingokoqobo?
2 Bonke laba bantu abahilelekile bangoFakazi BakaJehova. Liyini “icala” labo? Ngokuyisisekelo, ukwenza ngokuvumelana nezinkolelo zabo ezingokwenkolo. Elalela izimfundiso zikaJesu Kristu, umninisitolo wayekade exoxa nabanye ngokholo lwakhe. (Mathewu 28:19, 20) Ngokuyinhloko, waboshwa ngenxa yomthetho omdala waseGrisi owenza ukuguqulela abantu kwenye inkolo kube yicala. Umfundi waxoshwa ngoba unembeza wakhe oqeqeshwe ngeBhayibheli ungamvumeli ukuba ahlanganyele ekuzilolongeleni i-kendo (ubuciko baseJapane bokungcweka ngezinkemba) okuyimpoqo. (Isaya 2:4) Futhi labo abaxoshwa emsebenzini eFrance batshelwa ukuthi ukuphela kwesizathu abaxoshelwa sona kwakuwukuthi bazibiza ngoFakazi BakaJehova.
3. Kungani iningi loFakazi BakaJehova liqabukela lihlushwa kanzima abanye abantu?
3 Izenzakalo ezinzima njengalezi zibonisa lokho oFakazi BakaJehova abaye babhekana nakho muva nje kwamanye amazwe. Nokho, iningi loFakazi BakaJehova liyaqabukela lihlushwa kanzima abanye abantu. Abantu bakaJehova baziwa emhlabeni wonke ngokuziphatha kwabo okuhle—idumela elinganikezi muntu isizathu esizwakalayo sokufuna ukubalimaza. (1 Petru 2:11, 12) Abakhi luzungu noma baziphathe ngendlela elimazayo. (1 Petru 4:15) Ngokuphambene, bazama ukuphila ngokuvumelana neseluleko seBhayibheli sokuthobela uNkulunkulu kuqala, nawohulumeni bezwe kamuva. Bayazikhokha izintela ezifunwa umthetho futhi bazama ‘ukuba nokuthula nabantu bonke.’ (Roma 12:18; 13:6, 7; 1 Petru 2:13-17) Emsebenzini wabo wokufundisa ngeBhayibheli, bakhuthaza ukuhlonipha umthetho, ukubaluleka komkhaya nokuziphatha okuhle. Ohulumeni abaningi baye babatusa ngokuba yizakhamuzi ezigcina umthetho. (Roma 13:3) Nokho, njengoba isigaba sokuqala sibonisa, ngezinye izikhathi baye baba yizisulu zokuphikiswa—kwamanye amazwe bavinjelwa ngisho nawohulumeni. Ingabe lokho kufanele kusimangaze?
“Izindleko” Zokuba Umfundi
4. NgokukaJesu, yini umuntu angayilindela lapho eba omunye wabafundi bakhe?
4 UJesu Kristu wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi ukuba umfundi wakhe kwakuyohilelani. Watshela abafundi bakhe: “Isigqila asisikhulu kunenkosi yaso. Uma beye bangishushisa mina, bayonishushisa nani.” UJesu wayezondwa “ngaphandle kwesizathu.” (Johane 15:18-20, 25; IHubo 69:4; Luka 23:22) Abafundi bakhe babengalindela okufanayo—ukuphikiswa ngaphandle kwesisekelo esizwakalayo. Wabaxwayisa izikhathi ezingaphezu kwesisodwa: “Niyoba izinto zokuzondwa.”—Mathewu 10:22; 24:9.
5, 6. (a) Kungani uJesu anxusa abazoba abalandeli bakhe ukuba ‘babale izindleko’? (b) Khona-ke, kungani kungafanele sisambatheke lapho sibhekana nokuphikiswa?
5 Ngenxa yalokho, uJesu wanxusa labo ababeyoba abalandeli bakhe ukuba ‘babale izindleko’ zokuba abafundi. (Luka 14:28) Ngani? Hhayi ukuze banqume ukuthi bangaba yini abalandeli bakhe noma cha, kodwa ukuze bazimisele ukufeza lokho okuhilelekile. Kumelwe sikulungele ukukhuthazelela noma yikuphi ukulingwa noma ubunzima obuhambisana naleli lungelo. (Luka 14:27) Akekho osiphoqayo ukuba sikhonze uJehova njengabalandeli bakaKristu. Yisinqumo sokuzithandela; futhi yisinqumo umuntu asenza azi. Sazi kusengaphambili ukuthi ngaphezu kwezibusiso esiyozithola ngokungena ebuhlotsheni bokuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu, siyoba “izinto zokuzondwa.” Ngakho asisambatheki lapho sihlangana nokuphikiswa. Siye ‘sazibala izindleko,’ futhi sizimisele ngokugcwele ukuzikhokhela.—1 Petru 4:12-14.
6 Yini engase yenze abanye, kuhlanganise neziphathimandla ezithile zikahulumeni, bafune ukuphikisa amaKristu eqiniso? Ukuze sithole impendulo, kuzosisiza ukuhlola amaqembu amabili enkolo ekhulu lokuqala C.E. Womabili ayezondwa—kodwa ngenxa yezizathu ezihlukene kakhulu.
Babenenzondo Futhi Bezondwa
7, 8. Yiziphi izimfundiso ezazibonisa ukwedelela abeZizwe, futhi yisiphi isimo sengqondo esakheka phakathi kwamaJuda ngenxa yazo?
7 Ngekhulu lokuqala C.E., u-Israyeli wayebuswa amaRoma, futhi ubuJuda, isimiso senkolo samaJuda, ngokuyinhloko babuphethwe ngendlela ecindezelayo abaholi abanjengababhali nabaFarisi. (Mathewu 23:2-4) Laba baholi ababeshiseka ngokweqile bathatha izimiso zoMthetho KaMose eziphathelene nokuzihlukanisa nezizwe bazisonta ukuze zithi abangewona amaJuda mabadelelwe. Ngokwenza kanjalo, bakha inkolo eyayikhuthaza ukuzonda abeZizwe, futhi nayo eyazibangela ukuzondwa abeZizwe.
8 Kwakungenzima kubaholi abangamaJuda ukukhuthaza ukwedelelwa kwabeZizwe, ngoba ngaleso sikhathi amaJuda ayebheka abeZizwe njengezidalwa ezikhohlakele. Abaholi benkolo babefundisa ukuthi owesifazane ongumJuda akumelwe neze abe yedwa phakathi kwabeZizwe, ngoba “basolwa ngokuziphatha okungcolile.” Indoda engumJuda kwakungamelwe “ibe yodwa phakathi kwabo ngoba basolwa ngokuchitha igazi.” Ubisi olusengwe oweZizwe lwalungenakusetshenziswa ngaphandle kwalapho kwakukhona umJuda owayebhekile lapho lusengwa. Ngethonya labaholi bawo, amaJuda azikhetha futhi azehlukanisa ngokuqinile.—Qhathanisa noJohane 4:9.
9. Waba yini umphumela wemfundiso yabaholi abangamaJuda mayelana nabangewona amaJuda?
9 Izimfundiso ezinjalo eziphathelene nabangewona amaJuda azizange zithuthukise ubuhlobo obuhle phakathi kwamaJuda nabeZizwe. AbeZizwe babheka amaJuda njengabantu abazonda sonke isintu. Isazi-mlando esingumRoma uTacitus (esazalwa cishe ngo-56 C.E.) sathi amaJuda “azonda bonke abantu njengokungathi bayizitha.” UTacitus wathi futhi abeZizwe ababeba amaproselithe angamaJuda babefundiswa ukuba badele izwe lakubo futhi beye abomndeni nabangane babo. Ngokuvamile, amaRoma ayewabekezelela amaJuda, njengoba ayemaningi kangangokuthi ayesabeka. Kodwa ukuvukela kwamaJuda ngo-66 C.E. kwabangela ukuhlasela okunonya kwamaRoma kokuphindisela, okwaholela ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E.
10, 11. (a) UMthetho KaMose wawuthi abantu bezinye izizwe mabaphathwe kanjani? (b) Yisiphi isifundo esisithola kulokho okwenzeka ebuJudeni?
10 Ukubheka abantu bezinye izizwe ngalowo mbono kwakunjani lapho kuqhathaniswa nohlobo lokukhulekela oluvezwe eMthethweni KaMose? UMthetho wawukukhuthaza ukuzihlukanisa nezizwe, kodwa lokhu kwakwenzelwa ukuvikela ama-Israyeli, ikakhulukazi ukukhulekela kwawo okuhlanzekile. (Joshuwa 23:6-8) Ngisho nalapho, uMthetho wawuthi abantu bezinye izizwe baphathwe ngobulungisa nokungakhethi futhi bamukelwe ngomusa—uma nje babengayephuli ingcaca imithetho yakwa-Israyeli. (Levitikusi 24:22) Ngokuchezuka emoyeni wokucabangela obonakala ngokucacile eMthethweni mayelana nabantu bezinye izizwe, abaholi benkolo abangamaJuda bosuku lukaJesu bakha uhlobo lokukhulekela olwalukhuthaza inzondo futhi olwaluzondwa. Ekugcineni, isizwe samaJuda sekhulu lokuqala salahlekelwa umusa kaJehova.—Mathewu 23:38.
11 Ingabe sikhona isifundo esisithola kulokhu? Yebo, sikhona. Isimo sengqondo sokuzibona silungile futhi siphakeme, sokubabukela phansi labo abanezinkolelo zenkolo ezingafani nezethu asikumeleli ngokunembile ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile kukaJehova, futhi asimjabulisi. Cabanga ngamaKristu athembekile ekhulu lokuqala. Awazange abazonde abangewona amaKristu, futhi awazange avukele iRoma. Noma kunjalo, aba “izinto zokuzondwa.” Ngasiphi isizathu? Futhi ezondwa obani?
AmaKristu Okuqala—Ayezondwa Obani?
12. ImiBhalo ikwenza ngayiphi indlela ukuba kucace ukuthi uJesu ufuna abalandeli bakhe babe nombono olinganiselayo ngabangewona amaKristu?
12 Kucacile ezimfundisweni zikaJesu ukuthi wayehlose ukuba abafundi bakhe babe nombono olinganiselayo ngabangewona amaKristu. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, wathi abalandeli bakhe babeyozihlukanisa nezwe—okusho ukuthi, babeyogwema izimo zengqondo nokuziphatha okungqubuzana nezindlela zikaJehova zokulunga. Babengeke bathathe hlangothi ezindabeni zezimpi nezombangazwe. (Johane 17:14, 16) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, kunokuba akhuthaze ukwedelelwa kwabangewona amaKristu, uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuba ‘bathande izitha zabo.’ (Mathewu 5:44) Umphostoli uPawulu wanxusa amaKristu: “Uma isitha sakho silambile, siphe ukudla; uma somile, sinike okokuphuza.” (Roma 12:20) Watshela amaKristu futhi ukuba ‘asebenze okuhle kubo bonke.’—Galathiya 6:10.
13. Kungani abaholi benkolo abangamaJuda babebaphikisa kangaka abafundi bakaKristu?
13 Nokho, ngokushesha abafundi bakaKristu bazithola ‘beyizinto zokuzondwa’ amaqembu amathathu. Okokuqala kwakungabaholi benkolo abangamaJuda. Akumangalisi ukuthi amaKristu ashesha ukuqapheleka kubo! La maKristu ayenezindinganiso eziphakeme zokuziphatha nokuba qotho, futhi ayesakaza ngentshiseko evuthayo umyalezo onika ithemba. Izinkulungwane zashiya ubuJuda zamukela ubuKristu. (IzEnzo 2:41; 4:4; 6:7) Kulaba baholi benkolo abangamaJuda, abafundi bakaJesu abangamaJuda babemane nje beyizihlubuki! (Qhathanisa nezEnzo 13:45.) Laba baholi abathukuthele babenomuzwa wokuthi ubuKristu babuchitha amasiko abo. Ingani babungawamukeli ngisho nombono wabo ngabeZizwe! Kusukela ngo-36 C.E. kuqhubeke, abeZizwe babengaba amaKristu, babe nokholo olufanayo namalungelo afanayo nawamaKristu angamaJuda.—IzEnzo 10:34, 35.
14, 15. (a) Kungani amaKristu azondwa abakhulekeli abangamaqaba? Nikeza isibonelo. (b) Yiliphi iqembu lesithathu amaKristu aba “izinto zokuzondwa” yilo?
14 Okwesibili, amaKristu azondwa abakhulekeli abangamaqaba. Ngokwesibonelo, e-Efesu yasendulo, ukwenziwa kwezindawo zokukhulekela zesiliva zikankulunkulukazi u-Arthemisi kwakuyibhizinisi elichumayo. Kodwa lapho uPawulu eshumayela lapho, kwasabela inani elibhekile labase-Efesu, layeka ukukhulekela u-Arthemisi. Njengoba ibhizinisi labo lalisongelwa, abakhandi besiliva basusa izibhelu. (IzEnzo 19:24-41) Kwenzeka okuthi akufane ngemva kokuba ubuKristu busakazekele eBithiniya (manje eyinyakatho-ntshonalanga yeTurkey). Esikhathini esingengakanani ngemva kokuqedwa kwemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, umbusi waseBithiniya, uPliny Omncane, wabika ukuthi amathempeli amaqaba ayesele dengwane nokuthi ukuthengwa kwefolishi lezilwane zemihlatshelo kwakwehle kakhulu. Kwasolwa amaKristu—futhi ashushiswa—njengoba ukukhulekela kwawo kwakungayivumeli imihlatshelo yezilwane nezithombe. (Heberu 10:1-9; 1 Johane 5:21) Ngokusobala, ukusakazeka kobuKristu kwathinta abathile ababethola izinzuzo ekukhulekeleni kobuqaba, futhi labo abalahlekelwa yibhizinisi nemali babucasukela.
15 Okwesithathu, amaKristu aba “izinto zokuzondwa” amaRoma ayeshisekela ubuzwe. Ekuqaleni, amaRoma ayazi ukuthi amaKristu ayiqembu lenkolo elincane futhi mhlawumbe elishiseka ngokweqile. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ukuzibiza nje ngomKristu kwaba yicala elinesijeziso sokufa. Kungani izakhamuzi ezithembekile eziphila ukuphila kobuKristu zazibonakala ziyizisulu ezikahle zokushushiswa nokubulawa?
AmaKristu Okuqala—Kungani Ayezondwa Ezweni LaseRoma?
16. AmaKristu ayezihlukanisa ngaziphi izindlela nezwe, futhi kungani lokhu kwawenza angathandwa ezweni laseRoma?
16 Ngokuyinhloko, ezweni laseRoma amaKristu ayezondelwa ukwenza ngokuvumelana nezinkolelo zawo ezingokwenkolo. Ngokwesibonelo, azigcina ehlukile ezweni. (Johane 15:19) Ngakho ayengazithathi izikhundla zezombangazwe, futhi ayenqaba ukuya empini. Ngenxa yalokho, “ayemelelwa njengabantu abafile ngokuqondene nezwe, nabangenalusizo kuzo zonke izici zokuphila,” kusho isazi-mlando u-Augustus Neander. Ukungabi yingxenye yezwe kwakusho nokugwema izindlela ezimbi zezwe elonakele laseRoma. Isazi-mlando uWill Durant siyachaza: “Ngokuzinikela kwayo enkolweni kanye nokuhlonipheka kwayo, imiphakathi emincane yamaKristu yayilikhathaza izwe lobuqaba elithanda injabulo ngokweqile.” (1 Petru 4:3, 4) Ngokushushisa nokubulala amaKristu, kungenzeka ukuthi amaRoma ayefuna ukuthulisa onembeza ababekhathaza.
17. Yini ebonisa ukuthi umsebenzi wokushumayela wamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala wawuphumelela?
17 AmaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayeshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngentshiseko engayekethisi. (Mathewu 24:14) Cishe ngo-60 C.E., uPawulu wayengathi izindaba ezinhle zazishunyayelwe “kuyo yonke indalo engaphansi kwezulu.” (Kolose 1:23) Ekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala leminyaka, abalandeli bakaJesu base benze abafundi kuwo wonke uMbuso WaseRoma—e-Asia, eYurophu nase-Afrika! Ngisho namanye amalungu “endlu kaKesari” aba amaKristu.a (Filipi 4:22) Lokhu kushumayela ngentshiseko kwabangela ukucasuka. UNeander uthi: “Kancane kancane ubuKristu banda phakathi kwabantu bazo zonke izigaba, futhi basongela ukugumbuqela inkolo yombuso.”
18. Ukuzinikela kuJehova kuphela kwawenza kanjani amaKristu angavumelana nohulumeni waseRoma?
18 Abalandeli bakaJesu babezinikela kuJehova kuphela. (Mathewu 4:8-10) Mhlawumbe lesi sici sokukhulekela kwabo yisona esabenza bangavumelana neRoma ngaphezu kwanoma yisiphi esinye. AmaRoma ayezibekezelela ezinye izinkolo, uma nje abalandeli bazo babemkhulekela nombusi. AmaKristu okuqala ayengenakuhlanganyela nakancane ekukhulekeleni okunjalo. Ayezibheka njenganesibopho sokulandisa egunyeni eliphakeme kuneloMbuso WaseRoma, elinguJehova uNkulunkulu. (IzEnzo 5:29) Ngenxa yalokho, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umKristu wayeyisakhamuzi esikahle kangakanani kuzo zonke ezinye izici, wayebhekwa njengesitha soMbuso.
19, 20. (a) Obani ngokuyinhloko ababenecala ngokunyundela okunonya okwasakazwa mayelana namaKristu athembekile? (b) Yini amaKristu amangalelwa ngayo ngokungamanga?
19 Kwakukhona nesinye isizathu esasibangela ukuba amaKristu abe “izinto zokuzondwa” ezweni laseRoma: Ukunyundelwa kwawo okunonya kwakwamukeleka kalula, ukumangalelwa okwakwenziwa abaholi benkolo abangamaJuda ngokwezinga elikhulu. (IzEnzo 17:5-8) Cishe ngo-60 noma 61 C.E., lapho uPawulu eseRoma elinde ukuba uMbusi uNero aqule icala lakhe, amaJuda aholayo athi ngobuKristu: “Ngempela ngokuqondene nalelihlelo siyazi ukuthi kukhulunywa ngokumelene nalo kuyo yonke indawo.” (IzEnzo 28:22) Ngokungangabazeki uNero wayezizwa izinkulumo zokuwanyundela. Ngo-64 C.E., lapho kusolwa yena ngomlilo owangqongqisa iRoma, kubikwa ukuthi uNero wesulela lelo cala kumaKristu ayenyundelwa kakade. Kubonakala sengathi lokhu kwalibhebhethekisa igagasi lokushushiswa ngobudlova elalihloselwe ukuqothula amaKristu.
20 Ukumangalelwa kwamaKristu ngamanga ngokuvamile kwakuhlanganisa amanga uqobo lwawo nokusontwa kwezinkolelo zawo. Ngenxa yokuthi ayekholelwa kuNkulunkulu oyedwa futhi engamkhulekeli umbusi, kwakuthiwa awakholelwa ebukhoneni bukaNkulunkulu. Njengoba amanye amalungu emikhaya angewona amaKristu ayephikisa izihlobo zawo ezingamaKristu, amaKristu amangalelwa ngokuthi achitha amakhaya. (Mathewu 10:21) Abizwa ngamazimuzimu, okuwukumangalelwa eminye imithombo ethi kwakusekelwe ekuhlanekezelweni kwamazwi kaJesu awasho eSidlweni SeNkosi Sakusihlwa.—Mathewu 26:26-28.
21. Yiziphi izizathu ezimbili ezenza amaKristu aba “izinto zokuzondwa”?
21 Ngakho-ke, amaKristu athembekile ‘ayeyizinto zokuzondwa’ amaRoma ngenxa yezizathu ezimbili eziyisisekelo: (1) izinkolelo nemikhuba yawo esekelwe eBhayibhelini (2) ukumangalelwa kwawo ngamanga. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi babenasiphi isizathu, abaphikisi babenomgomo owodwa kuphela—ukucindezela ubuKristu. Yiqiniso, abashoshozeli bangempela bokushushiswa kwamaKristu kwakungabaphikisi abangaphezu kwabantu, indikimba yomoya ababi engabonakali.—Efesu 6:12.
22. (a) Yisiphi isibonelo esibonisa ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bazama ‘ukusebenza okuhle kubo bonke’? (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 11.) (b) Kuzoxoxwa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?
22 NjengamaKristu okuqala, oFakazi BakaJehova ezikhathini zanamuhla baye baba “izinto zokuzondwa” emazweni ahlukahlukene. Kodwa bona ababazondi abangebona oFakazi; futhi abakaze babe yimbangela yokuvukela ohulumeni. Ngokuphambene, baziwa emhlabeni wonke ngokubonisa uthando oluqotho olweqa yonke imingcele yesigaba sokuphila, uhlanga nobuzwe. Pho, kungani beye bashushiswa? Futhi basabela kanjani ekuphikisweni? Le mibuzo kuzoxoxwa ngayo esihlokweni esilandelayo.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Inkulumo ethi “abendlu kaKesari” ayibhekiseli ngempela emalungwini aseduze omkhaya kaNero, owayebusa ngaleso sikhathi. Kunalokho, ingase ibhekisele ezisebenzini zakwakhe nasezikhulwini ezincane, mhlawumbe ezazenzela lo mkhaya wasebukhosini nabasebenza khona imisebenzi yasekhaya enjengokupheka nokuhlanza.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Kungani uJesu anxusa abazoba abalandeli bakhe ukuba babale izindleko zokuba abafundi?
◻ Umbono owawukhona ngabangewona amaJuda waba naliphi ithonya ebuJudeni, futhi yini esiyifunda kulokhu?
◻ AmaKristu okuqala athembekile ayephikiswa yimaphi amaqembu amathathu?
◻ Yiziphi izizathu eziyisisekelo ezenza amaKristu okuqala aba “izinto zokuzondwa” amaRoma?
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 11]
‘Ukusebenza Okuhle Kubo Bonke’
OFakazi BakaJehova bazama ukulalela umyalo weBhayibheli ‘wokusebenza okuhle kubo bonke.’ (Galathiya 6:10) Ngezikhathi zokuswela, uthando ngomakhelwane lubashukumisela ukuba basize labo abangenazo izinkolelo zenkolo ezifana nezabo. Ngokwesibonelo, phakathi nenhlekelele yaseRwanda ngo-1994, oFakazi baseYurophu beza e-Afrika ngokuzithandela bezofaka isandla emsebenzini wokusiza. Ngokushesha kwamiswa amakamu ahlelekile nezibhedlela zasesigangeni ukuze kunikezwe usizo. Kwathunyelwa ngezindiza ukudla okuningi, izembatho nezingubo zokulala. Inani lababaleki abazuza kulo msebenzi wokusiza laliphinda kathathu nangaphezulu inani loFakazi ababekule ndawo.
[Isithombe ekhasini 9]
AmaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ashumayela izindaba ezinhle ngentshiseko engayekethisi