Ingabe Kufanele Ugcine Isabatha Lamasonto Onke?

NGASEKUPHELENI kweminyaka yawo-1980, amaqembu amancane amaWeseli avimbezela iSuva, inhloko-dolobha yaseFiji. Abesilisa, abesifazane nabantwana—bonke ababegqoke izembatho zesonto—bavimba imigwaqo engu-70. Babevimba zonke izimoto namaloli omsebenzi futhi kwakungekho zindiza ezingenayo neziphumayo. Babekwenzelani konke lokhu? Babefuna ukuba bonke abantu ezweni babuyele ekugcinweni kweSabatha futhi banamathele emithethweni yalo.

Izwe lakwa-Israyeli lakhipha umthetho othi zonke izakhiwo ezintsha eziyizitezi ezakhiwa kusukela ngo-2001 kumelwe zibe nekheshi elima kuzo zonke izitezi. Ngasiphi isizathu? Ukuze amaJuda azinikele agcina iSabatha kusukela ngoLwesihlanu kusihlwa kuya kuMgqibelo kusihlwa kungadingeki “asebenze” ngokucindezela izinkinobho zekheshi.

ETonga, izwe elibuswa yinkosi eliseNingizimu Pacific, abantu abavunyelwe ukusebenza ngeSonto. Izindiza nemikhumbi akungeni. Noma yiziphi izivumelwano ezisayinwa ngalolo suku zibhekwa njengezingekho emthethweni. Umthetho-sisekelo waseTonga uthi bonke abantu kufanele “balugcine lungcwele” usuku lwangeSonto, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi basontaphi. Kungani? Ukuze kuqinisekwe ukuthi bonke abantu ezweni bagcina iSabatha.

Njengoba izibonelo ezingenhla zibonisa, abantu abaningi banomuzwa wokuthi uNkulunkulu ufuna bagcine iSabatha lamasonto onke. Empeleni, abanye bathi ukugcina iSabatha kubaluleke kakhulu futhi bakholelwa ukuthi kuhilela insindiso yethu yaphakade. Abanye banomuzwa wokuthi umyalo kaNkulunkulu wokugcina iSabatha yiwona obaluleke kunayo yonke. Liyini iSabatha? Ingabe iBhayibheli likhuthaza amaKristu ukuba agcine usuku lweSabatha masonto onke?

Liyini ISabatha?

Igama lesiNgisi elithi “Sabbath” livela kwelesiHebheru elisho “ukuphumula noma ukungenzi lutho.” Nakuba ukulandisa kukaGenesise kubonisa ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu waphumula emsebenzini wakhe wokudala ngosuku lwesikhombisa, abantu bakaNkulunkulu baze banikwa umyalo wokugcina iSabatha, noma wokuphumula amahora angu-24 ngesikhathi sikaMose. (Genesise 2:2) Ngemva kokuba ama-Israyeli ephume eGibhithe ngo-1513 B.C.E., uJehova wawondla ngokuyisimangaliso ngemana ehlane. Ngokuqondene nokubutha leyo mana, ayalwa: ‘Niyolibutha izinsuku eziyisithupha, kodwa ngosuku lwesikhombisa yisabatha. Ngeke lakheke ngalo.’ (Eksodusi 16:26) Sibe sesitshelwa ukuthi “abantu baligcina isabatha ngosuku lwesikhombisa,” kusukela ekushoneni kwelanga ngoLwesihlanu kuya ekushoneni kwelanga ngoMgqibelo.—Eksodusi 16:30.

Ngemva kwesikhashana nje ekhiphe lezo ziqondiso, uJehova wanikeza umthetho ophathelene nokugcinwa kweSabatha, ohlanganisa iMiyalo Eyishumi eyanikezwa uMose. (Eksodusi 19:1) Ingxenye yomthetho wesine yayithi: “Ukhumbula usuku lwesabatha ukuba uluphathe njengolungcwele, uyonikela inkonzo futhi wenze wonke umsebenzi wakho izinsuku eziyisithupha. Kodwa usuku lwesikhombisa luyisabatha kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.” (Eksodusi 20:8-10) Ngakho, ukugcinwa kweSabatha kwaba yingxenye ebalulekile yokuphila kwama-Israyeli.—Duteronomi 5:12.

Ingabe UJesu Waligcina ISabatha Lamasonto Onke?

Yebo, uJesu waligcina iSabatha. Naku esikutshelwayo ngaye: “Lapho kufika ukuphelela kwaleso sikhathi, uNkulunkulu wathumela iNdodana yakhe, eyavela kowesifazane futhi eyaba ngaphansi komthetho.” (Galathiya 4:4) UJesu wazalelwa esizweni sakwa-Israyeli, ngakho waba ngaphansi koMthetho owawuhlanganisa umthetho weSabatha. Isivumelwano soMthetho saze saqedwa ngemva kokufa kwakhe. (Kolose 2:13, 14) Ukwazi ukuthi lezi zenzakalo zenzeka nini kusisiza ukuba siqonde umbono kaNkulunkulu ngale ndaba.—Bheka ishadi ekhasini 15.

Yiqiniso, uJesu washo ukuthi: “Ningacabangi ukuthi ngizele ukuchitha uMthetho noma abaProfethi. Angizelanga ukuchitha, kodwa ukugcwalisa.” (Mathewu 5:17) Kodwa lisho ukuthini igama elithi “ukugcwalisa”? Nasi isibonelo: Umakhi ugcwalisa—noma ufeza—isivumelwano ngokuba awuqede umsebenzi wokwakha awunikiwe, hhayi ngokuphula isivumelwano. Kodwa lapho esewuqedile umsebenzi futhi umnikazi wendlu enelisekile ngawo, isivumelwano sisuke sigcwalisiwe, noma sifeziwe, futhi umakhi uyakhululeka kunoma isiphi isibopho. Ngokufanayo, uJesu akazange awephule uMthetho; kunalokho, wawugcwalisa ngokuwugcina njengoba unjalo. Ngemva kokuba leso “sivumelwano” soMthetho sigcwalisiwe, asizange sisababopha abantu bakaNkulunkulu.

Ingabe Kufanele AmaKristu Aligcine?

Njengoba uKristu agcwalisa uMthetho, ingabe amaKristu abophekile ukugcina iSabatha lamasonto onke? Umphostoli uPawulu waphefumulelwa ukuba aphendule: “Ngakho-ke ningahlulelwa muntu ngokudla nokuphuza noma ngokuqondene nomkhosi noma ukugujwa kokuthwasa kwenyanga noma isabatha; ngoba lezo zinto ziyisithunzi sezinto ezizokuza, kodwa okungokoqobo kungokukaKristu.”—Kolose 2:16, 17.

La mazwi aphefumulelwe asikisela ukuthi izinto uNkulunkulu ayezilindele ezincekwini zakhe zashintsha kakhulu. Kungani zashintsha? Ngoba amaKristu angaphansi komthetho omusha, “umthetho kaKristu.” (Galathiya 6:2) Isivumelwano soMthetho sangaphambili esanikezwa ama-Israyeli ngoMose saqedwa lapho uJesu efa. (Roma 10:4; Efesu 2:15) Ingabe umyalo wokugcinwa kweSabatha nawo waqedwa? Yebo. Ngemva kokuba ethe “sikhululiwe eMthethweni,” uPawulu wakhuluma ngomunye weMiyalo Eyishumi. (Roma 7:6, 7) Ngakho, iMiyalo Eyishumi iyingxenye yoMthetho owaqedwa, kuhlanganise nomthetho weSabatha. Yingakho abakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu kungasadingeki ukuba bagcine iSabatha lamasonto onke.

Ukuyekwa kwendlela yama-Israyeli yokukhulekela kwamukelwe eyobuKristu kungafaniswa kanje: Izwe lingase lishintshe umthetho-sisekelo walo. Lapho nje sekusebenza umthetho-sisekelo omusha, siyaphela isidingo sokuba abantu balalele omdala. Nakuba ingase ibe khona eminye imithetho efana neyayisemthethweni-sisekelo omdala, ingase ibe khona ehlukile. Ngakho, kungase kudingeke ukuba umuntu afunde umthetho-sisekelo omusha ngokucophelela ukuze azi imithetho emisha. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isakhamuzi esiqotho singase sithande ukwazi ukuthi umthetho-sisekelo omusha waqala nini ukusebenza.

Ngokufanayo, uJehova uNkulunkulu wanikeza isizwe sakwa-Israyeli imithetho engaphezu kuka-600, ehlanganisa eyishumi eyinhloko. Le mithetho yayihlanganisa ephathelene nokuziphatha, ukwenziwa kwemihlatshelo, impilo nokugcinwa kweSabatha. Nokho, uJesu wathi abalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe babeyokwakha “isizwe” esisha. (Mathewu 21:43) Kusukela ngo-33 C.E., lesi sizwe saba “nomthetho-sisekelo” omusha osekelwe emithethweni emibili eyisisekelo—ukuthanda uNkulunkulu nokuthanda umakhelwane. (Mathewu 22:36-40) Nakuba ‘umthetho kaKristu’ uhlanganisa imiyalo efana naleyo eseMthethweni owawunikezwe u-Israyeli, akufanele kusimangaze ukuthi eminye ihluke kakhulu nokuthi eminye ayisadingeki. Umthetho wokugcinwa kweSabatha masonto onke ungomunye waleyo engaseyona isibopho.

Ingabe UNkulunkulu Uye Wazishintsha Izindinganiso Zakhe?

Ingabe ukuqedwa koMthetho KaMose bese kusetshenziswa okaKristu kusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu uye wazishintsha izindinganiso zakhe? Cha. Njengoba nje umzali eyishintsha kancane imithetho ayibekela izingane zakhe, ecabangela iminyaka nezimo zazo, uJehova uye wayishintsha kancane imithetho alindele ukuba abantu bakhe bayigcine. Umphostoli uPawulu uchaza le ndaba ngale ndlela: “Ngaphambi kokuba kufike ukholo, sasiqashelwe ngaphansi komthetho, sinikelwa ndawonye ukuba sivalelwe, sibheké okholweni olwalumiselwe ukwambulwa. Ngenxa yalokho uMthetho uye waba umfundisi wethu oholela kuKristu, ukuze kuthiwe silungile ngenxa yokholo. Kodwa njengoba ukholo selufikile, asisekho ngaphansi komfundisi.”—Galathiya 3:23-25.

La mazwi kaPawulu asebenza kanjani endabeni yeSabatha? Cabangela lesi sibonelo: Ingane yesikole kungase kudingeke ifunde isifundo esithile ngosuku phakathi nesonto, njengokusebenza ngokhuni. Kodwa lapho isisebenza, kungase kudingeke iwasebenzise nsuku zonke amakhono eyawafunda, hhayi ngosuku olulodwa kuphela. Ngokufanayo, ngesikhathi ama-Israyeli engaphansi koMthetho, kwakudingeka abekele eceleni usuku olulodwa masonto onke ukuze aphumule futhi akhulekele uJehova. Kuhlukile ngamaKristu; wona kufanele akhulekele uNkulunkulu nsuku zonke, hhayi kanye ngesonto.

Kubi yini ukubekela eceleni usuku olulodwa ngesonto ukuze uphumule futhi ukhulekele? Cha. IZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi lokho kushiyelwa kumuntu ngamunye. Lithi: “Omunye umuntu ubheka olunye usuku njengolungcwele kunolunye. Omunye umuntu ubheka zonke izinsuku njengezifanayo. Wonke umuntu kumelwe azenzele isinqumo sakhe.” (Roma 14:5, God’s Word) Nakuba abanye bengase bakhethe ukubheka olunye usuku njengolungcwele kunezinye, iBhayibheli libonisa ngokucacile ukuthi uNkulunkulu akalindele ukuba amaKristu agcine usuku lweSabatha lwamasonto onke.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 12]

‘Niyobutha imana izinsuku eziyisithupha, kodwa ngosuku lwesikhombisa yisabatha. Ngeke lakheke ngalo.’—EKSODUSI 16:26

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 14]

“UMthetho uye waba umfundisi wethu oholela kuKristu, ukuze kuthiwe silungile ngenxa yokholo. Kodwa njengoba ukholo selufikile, asisekho ngaphansi komfundisi.”—GALATHIYA 3:24, 25

[Ibhokisi/Umdwebo ekhasini 13]

I-International Date Line NeSabatha

I-International date line iba yinkinga kulabo abakholelwa ukuthi kumelwe bagcine iSabatha lamasonto onke ngosuku olufanayo emhlabeni wonke. Le date line iwumugqa ongabonakali onqamula engxenyeni enkulu yoLwandle iPacific. Amazwe asentshonalanga ye-date line aphambili ngosuku olulodwa kulawo asempumalanga.

Ngokwesibonelo, uma kuyiSonto eFiji naseTonga, kusuke kuwuMgqibelo eSamoa naseNiue. Ngakho, uma umuntu waseFiji egcina iSabatha ngoMgqibelo, abantu asonta nabo eSamoa, eqhele nje ngamakhilomitha angu-1 145, basuke besebenza ngoba kubo kusuke kunguLwesihlanu.

AmaSabatha aseTonga agcina iSabatha lawo ngeSonto, ngoba athi ngokwenza kanjalo agcina iSabatha ngesikhathi esifanayo namanye amaSabatha aseSamoa, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaphezudlwana kuka-850. Nokho, ngesikhathi esifanayo, amaSabatha aseFiji, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaphansi kwangu-800, asuke esebenza ngoba kuwona kusuke kuyiSonto, futhi aligcina ngoMgqibelo iSabatha!

[Umdwebo]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

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— ― ― ― ― ― ― ―

IFIJI \

ISonto \ UMgqibelo

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ITONGA \

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[Ishadi ekhasini 15]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Amaqiniso Okufanele Akhunjulwe Mayelana NeSabatha:

Nakuba kungase kube nevesi leBhayibheli elikhuluma ngesidingo sokugcina iSabatha lamasonto onke, kufanele sithole ukuthi lawo mazwi ashiwo nini.

2010 C.E.

[Isithombe ekhasini 11]

Amaphephandaba ayekhuluma ngemigwaqo engu-70 eyayivinjwe abantu baseWeseli ngoba befuna ukuba kubuyelwe ekugcinweni kweSabatha ngokuphelele

[Umthombo]

Courtesy of the Fiji Times