Indlela Ubhapathizo Olungasisindisa Ngayo
“Ukucwiliswa . . . kuyasisindisa.”—1 PETRU 3:21, The Emphatic Diaglott.
1, 2. Yini edingekayo ngaphambi kokuba umuntu angenele ubhapathizo lwamanzi?
UJEHOVA unezimfuneko eziqondile kulabo abafuna ukusindiswa. Kumelwe bazuze ulwazi oluqondile, babonise ukholo, baphenduke ezonweni zabo, baguquke, bazinikezele kuNkulunkulu, futhi babhapathizwe njengabakholwayo. (Johane 3:16; 17:3; IzEnzo 3:19; 18:8) Abazobhapathizwa kumelwe bavume obala ukuthi ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu baye baphenduka ezonweni zabo, futhi baye bazinikezela kuJehova. Kumelwe futhi baqonde ukuthi ukuzinikezela nobhapathizo kubaphawula njengoFakazi BakaJehova.
2 Lonke ilungiselelo lobhapathizo, kuhlanganise nalokhu kubonakaliswa kokholo obala, kudingekile ukuze sisindiswe. (Roma 10:10) Lokhu kwaqinisekiswa lapho umphostoli uPetru ebhala: “Ukucwiliswa . . . kuyasisindisa.” (1 Petru 3:21, ED) Kodwa empeleni kufanele siwaqonde kanjani lamazwi? Umongo ubonisani?
Indlela Ubhapathizo Olusindisa Ngayo
3. Ngamazwi akho, ubungayifingqa kanjani eyoku-1 Petru 3:18-21?
3 UPetru wabonisa ukuthi njengomoya ovusiwe, uJesu washumayela isigijimi sembubhiso emimoyeni emibi esekuboshweni, amademoni agcinelwe ukwahlulelwa kosuku olukhulu lukaJehova ngezibopho zaphakade. Awalalelanga ngokwenza imizimba yawo ibe eyenyama nokuhlala nabesifazane “lapho ukubekezela kukaNkulunkulu kubalindele ezinsukwini zikaNowa umkhumbi usakhiwa,abasindiswa ngawo abayingcosana, okungukuthi abayisishiyagalombili [uNowa, umkakhe, amadodana akhe, nomkawo] ngawo amanzi.” UPetru wanezela: “[Okufana nalokhu kuyanisindisa nani manje], okungukuthi, ngombhapathizo, kungesikho [nje] ukususa insila yenyama [okudingekile] kepha ukucela kuNkulunkulu unembeza omuhle, ngokuvuka kukaJesu Kristu.”—1 Petru 3:18-21, qhathanisa neNW; Genesise 6:1, 2; 2 Petru 2:4; 2 Korinte 7:1.
4. Yini uPetru ayebhekisela kuyo lapho ethi, “Okufana nalokhu”?
4 UPetru wayesho ukuthini uma ethi, “Okufana nalokhu”? Wayesho ukuthi ubhapathizo olusekelwe okholweni lufana nokulondolozwa kukaNowa nomkhaya wakhe, abasindiswa ngesikhathi samanzi kazamcolo abhubhisa labo ababengaphandle komkhumbi. Njengoba uNowa ayedinga ukholo ukuze akhe umkhumbi, bonke ababa abafundi bakaJesu Kristu noFakazi BakaJehova ababhapathiziwe kumelwe babe nokholo ukuze bamelane nokucindezela abakulethelwa yilelizwe elingenalukholo nonkulunkulu walo, uSathane uDeveli.—Heberu 11:6, 7; 1 Johane 5:19.
5. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba insindiso ize “ngokuvuka kukaJesu Kristu”?
5 Akulona ubhapathizo ngokwalo olusindisayo. Futhi nakuba kumelwe ‘sisuse insila yenyama,’ lokho kukodwa akusisindisi. Kunalokho, insindiso iza “ngokuvuka kukaJesu Kristu.” Abazobhapathizwa kumelwe babe nokholo lokuthi insindiso ingenzeka kuphela ngoba iNdodana kaNkulunkulu yafa ukufa komhlatshelo futhi yavuswa. Kumelwe futhi bamukele uJesu njengeNkosi yabo enegunya lokwahlulela abaphilayo nabafileyo. ‘Ungakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu,’ kusho uPetru, ‘ngoba wenyukela ezulwini, sekubekwe phansi kwakhe izingelosi, negunya, namandla.’—1 Petru 3:22.
6. Ukuze azuze unembeza omuhle, yini ozobhapathizwa okumelwe abe eyenzile?
6 UPetru futhi wahlanganisa ubhapathizo ‘nokucela unembeza omuhle kuNkulunkulu.’ Ukuze azuze unembeza omuhle, ozocwiliswa kumelwe aphenduke ezonweni zakhe, aguquke enkambweni engalungile, futhi azinikezele ngokungagodli kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngomthandazo ngoJesu Kristu. Uma umuntu obhapathiziwe elondoloza lonembeza omuhle ngokuzivumelanisa nezindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu, uhlala esesimweni sokusindiswa esingabizeli isahlulelo sikaJehova sembubhiso.
Ukufanelekela Ubhapathizo
7. Mayelana nobhapathizo, yini eye yenziwa abavangeli beLobukholwa?
7 Lapho uJesu ethuma abalandeli bakhe ukuba babhapathize abafundi, akazange abatshele ukuba bafafaze izinkulungwane zabangakholwayo. Kodwa yini eye yenziwa abavangeli beLobukholwa? Ngokuqondene neIndia, uFrancis Xavier ongumJesuit wabhala ngo-1545: “Embusweni kaTravancore . . . phakathi nesikhathi sezinyanga ezimbalwa ngiye ngabhapathiza amadoda, nabesifazane, nabantwana abangaphezu kwezinkulungwane eziyishumi. . . . Ngahamba idolobhana nedolobhana ngabenza amaKristu.” Lokho akuyona indlela kaJesu ‘yokwenza amaKristu.’ Abantu kumelwe balufanelekele ubhapathizo.
8. Izincwadi zesonto okuthiwa ezikaPawulu zithini ngalabo ababeziletha ukuba babhapathizwe?
8 Ngisho namaKristu athile okuzisholo enkathi yangemva kwabaphostoli akholelwa ukuthi labo ababeziletha ukuba babhapathizwe kwakudingeka bahlangabezane nezimfuneko eziqinile. Ngokuphathelene nabanjalo abazobhapathizwa, izincwadi zesonto ezingezona ezingokweBhayibheli, lezo ngephutha okuthiwa zalotshwa umphostoli uPawulu, zithi: “Makuhlolisiswe imikhuba yabo nokuphila kwabo . . . Uma bengashadile, mabafunde ukungahlobongi, kodwa bangenele umshado ongokomthetho. . . . Uma kufika isifebe, masishiye ubufebe baso, ngaphandle kwalokho masaliwe. Uma kufika owenza izithombe, makashiye umsebenzi wakhe, noma makaliwe. . . . Lowo onecala lezono ezingenakushiwo, . . . umenzi wemilingo, umthakathi, ofunda izinkanyezi, isangoma, osebenzisa izosha zemilingo, . . . owenza izintelezi, umthwebuli, umbikezeli wenhlanhla, obikezela ngokufunda intende yesandla, . . . , mabavivinywe isikhathi esithile . . . futhi uma beyishiya leyomikhuba, mabamukelwe; kodwa uma bengeke bavumelane nalokho, mabaliwe.”
9. Kungani abadala bebandla beba nezingxoxo nomuntu ofisa ukubhapathizwa?
9 OFakazi BakaJehova abazilandeli izincwadi ezingezona ezingokombhalo, njengalezo ezisanda kucashunwa, kodwa abadala bayaba nezingxoxo nalabo abafuna ukubhapathizwa. Ngani? Ukuze baqiniseke ukuthi labantu bangamakholwa ahlangabezana nezimfuneko zaphezulu futhi bazinikezele kuJehova. (IzEnzo 4:4; 18:8; 2 Thesalonika 3:2) Ukuxoxa ngemibuzo encwadini Ukuhlelelwa Ukufeza Inkonzo Yethu kusiza ekunqumeni ukuthi umuntu uyakufanelekela yini ukubhapathizwa. Uma amaphuzu athile engacacile kuye, noma engazange alethe ukuphila kwakhe ekuvumelaneni nezindinganiso zaphezulu, abadala bayakujabulela ukunikeza usizo olungokomoya.
10. Uma sifisa ukubhapathizwa, yisiphi isimo okufanele sibe naso?
10 Uma siwazisa umusa kaNkulunkulu wokusisiza ukuba sifunde ngezinjongo zakhe, siyoba njengabantu uPawulu abashumayeza eAntiyokiya, eAsia Minor. Naphezu kokuphikisa kwamaJuda, “lapho labo bezizwe bezwa [ngethuba lokwamukelwa uNkulunkulu], baqala ukuthokoza nokudumisa izwi likaJehova, futhi bonke ababenokuthambekela okufanele ekuphileni okuphakade baba amakholwa.” (IzEnzo 13:48, NW) Amakholwa anjalo abhapathizwa.
Ukubhapathizwa Ebusheni
11. Ingabe kufanelekile ukuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu lapho usemncane, futhi kungani uphendula kanjalo?
11 Labo “ababenokuthambekela okufanele ekuphileni okuphakade” bahlanganisa nabantu abathile abasha. Kungase kuphawulwe ukuthi nakuba uSamuweli noJohane uMbhapathizi babenikelwe kuNkulunkulu bengakazalwa, abazali abanakubenzela abantwana babo ukuzinikezela. (1 Samuweli 1:11, 24-28; 2:11, 18, 19; Luka 1:15, 66) Kodwa ngenxa yokuqeqeshwa okuhle kweBhayibheli, abantu abaningi abasha bathuthukela ekubhapathizweni. Udade oyisithunywa sevangeli owabhapathizwa eneminyaka eyeve eshumini nambili wabhala: “Kimina kubonakala sengathi ngazinikezela ukukhonza uMdali wami kusukela lapho nje ngiqaphela ukuthi ukhona, kodwa ngokuzuza ulwazi oluqondile ngaye nangezinjongo zakhe, ngafuna ukubhapathizwa njengobufakazi bangaphandle baleloqiniso. Noma kunjalo, uMama wakungabaza ukuthi ngangikwazi lokho engangikwenza, ngakho wasikisela ukuba ngilinde kuze kube yilapho omunye elungele ukubhapathizwa.” Kwatholakala owesifazane othile owayefisa ukubhapathizwa, futhi lodade uyanezela: “Ayengekho amakilasi emfundo ekhethekile yabazobhapathizwa ngalezozinsuku, nakuba uMqondisi Wenkonzo omiswe yiNhlangano . . . akhuluma nami ngomusa ngokungathi sina kwesinyathelo engangisithatha. Ngayivuma ngentshiseko yonke imibandela eyabekwa phambi kwami, futhi ngeSonto ekuseni licwathile ngoMay 1921 [owesifazane] nami sabhapathizwa.”
12. UMzalwan’ uRussell wakubheka kanjani ukuzinikezela komntwana osemncane?
12 Ngo-1914, uC. T. Russell (owayengumongameli weWatch Tower Society ngalesosikhathi) wathola incwadi umKristu akanye naye ayebuza kuyo ukuthi kwakufanele yini ukuba indodana yakhe eneminyaka eyi-12 ubudala ikhuthazwe ukuba izinikezele kuNkulunkulu. “Uma benginguwe,” kuphendula uRussell, “bengingeke ngigcizelele ukuzehlukanisela [ukuzinikezela] kuyo, kodwa bengizokugcina engqondweni yayo njengokuphela kwenkambo efanelekile yabo bonke abantu abahlakaniphile abanolwazi ngoNkulunkulu nangezinjongo zakhe zomusa . . . Ngaphandle kokuzehlukanisela akekho noyedwa oyozuza ukuphila okuphakade . . . Ukuzehlukanisela ngeke kuyilimaze indodana yakho, kodwa kungayisiza kakhulu. . . . Ubani ongathi umntwana oneminyaka eyishumi ngeke akuqonde ngokugcwele nangokuphelele ukuzehlukanisela okugcwele ngomqondo nangezwi nangesenzo? Uma ngibheka emuva ngiyabona ukuthi ukuzehlukanisela kwami kukonke kwenziwa okokuqala sekwephuzile kancane—ngemva kweminyaka eyishumi nambili ubudala.”
13. Yini eyashiwo yileliphephabhuku kwabasha eminyakeni engaba ama-94 edlule?
13 IZion’s Watch Tower kaJuly 1, 1894, yathi: “Kubo bonke abantwana nabantu abasebasha abathandekayo abaye banika uNkulunkulu izinhliziyo zabo, nabazama nsuku zonke ukulandela uJesu, iWATCH TOWER iyanibingelela. Sazi abathile abasebancane kakhulu abathanda uJesu, nalabo abangenamahloni okumelela uJesu phakathi kwabanye abantwana abangamthandi noma bazame ukumthokozisa; futhi abanesibindi nabaqinisile kuNkulunkulu, ngisho nalapho behlekwa futhi becatshangelwa njengabayinqaba ngabafunda nabo labo ababatshela izindaba ezinhle zombuso. Futhi siyajabula ukubona abanye abantu abasha, abaye balahla ngesibindi izwe nezifiso zalo zokuhaha nezintokozo, phakathi kwabathembeke kakhulu balabo abaye [banikezela] ukuphila kwabo eNkosini. Abanye babasizi bethu ehhovisi, kuhlanganise nama-colporteur amaningi aphumelelayo, basebasha ngeminyaka.” Ngisho noma usernusha, kungani ungaxoxi nabazali bakho ngokuzinikezela kuJehova uNkulunkulu?
Indima Yabazali
14. Yiziphi izinzuzo ezijatshulelwa abantu abasha abazinikezela kuJehova?
14 Cabangela izinzuzo ezijatshulelwa abantwana abathola isiqondiso sabazali esiholela obhapathizweni. (Efesu 6:4) Ukucabanga ngezindaba ezingokomoya kubasiza ukuba babalekele izingibe nezihibe zezwe. (1 Johane 2:15-17) Abasivuni isivuno esibuhlungu esiwumphumela ‘wokuhlwanyelela inyama.’ (Galathiya 6:7, 8) Njengoba beye bafundiswa ukuphila ukuphila kokwesaba uNkulunkulu, babonakalisa izithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu. (Galathiya 5:22, 23) Bezinikezele kuNkulunkulu, bajabulela ubuhlobo obuseduze naye. Futhi ngenxa yokuthi baye bafunda ‘ukuthembela kuJehova,’ baqondiswa ukuhlakanipha kwaphezulu futhi bahamba ngezindlela ezithandekayo nezokuthula.—IzAga 3:5, 6, 13, 17.
15. Yini engenziwa abazali abangamaKristu ukuze balolonge ukuphila kwabantwana babo?
15 Njengoba ukuzinikezela kuJehova kungokuzuzisa kangaka kubantu abasha, abazali abangamaKristu kufanele benze konke abangakwenza ekulolongeni ukuphila kwabantwana babo. NjengoThimothewu, abasha bangafundiswa imiBhalo kusukela ebuntwaneni ukuze ‘baqhubeke ezintweni abazifundile nabashukunyiselwa ukuba bazikholelwe.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:14, 15, NW) Abazali abesaba uNkulunkulu bangazungeza ukuphila kwabantwana babo ngethonya lokuphila kwabo siqu okuyisibonelo, bedlulisela kubantwana babo ulwazi olunganikezwa ubuhlobo babo siqu noNkulunkulu, okuhlangenwe nakho, nokwahlulela okuvuthiwe. Uma iqondiswa ngokufanele, lemizamo iyamzuzisa umntwana.—IzAga 22:6.
16. Yini abantwana bakho okufanele bayibone esibonelweni nasekufundiseni kwakho?
16 Ngesibonelo nangokufundisa, siza abantwana bakho ukuba bawubone ngokukhanyayo umehluko phakathi kwenhlangano kaJehova nekaSathane. Babonise ukuthi akunakuba nokuvumelana nalelizwe, ukuthi amaKristu kumelwe azilahle izinto zalo zomgunyathi, izinjabulo zokungamesabi uNkulunkulu, izifiso zokuhaha, nobungane. (1 Korinte 15:33; 2 Korinte 4:2) Ngesimo sakho, kuhlanganise nokufundisa kwakho nesibonelo, yenza ukuba abantwana bakho babone indlela izinjabulo zezwe eziyize ngayo, indlela abantu bezwe abakhungatheke ngayo uma beqhathaniswa noFakazi BakaJehova. Chaza indlela uNkulunkulu aye wakuhola ngayo ngomoya wakhe ongcwele, indlela akugcine ngayo ukuba ungaphambukeli ezindleleni ebezingaholela osizini, akusekela ngayo ezikhathini zokuhlupheka nezosizi. Ungalokothi wenze iphutha lokucabanga ukuthi uma abantwana bakho bevunyelwa ukuba bahambe ngezindlela zezwe zokuzidla, ukuhaha, intokozo eyize, nobuwula, bayoba amakholwa. Ngaphambi kokuba lelizwe libambe abantwana bakho ngogibe, bavikele emathonyeni alo anyanyekayo futhi basize ukuba bagxilise uthando lwabo lomzwelo namathemba kuJehova.
Ukubheka Ngale Kobhapathizo
17. (a) Kungani amanye amaKristu abhapathiziwe ebhekana nokuwa ngokomoya? (b) Kufanele sikubheke kanjani ukuzinikezela kwethu?
17 Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi musha noma mdala, ngokungangabazeki ozobhapathizwa ufuna ukuhlala ethembekile kuJehova. Pho kungani amanye amaKristu abhapathiziwe ehlangabezana nokuwa okungokomoya? Nakuba kunezici ezihlukahlukene ezingase zihileleke, kubonakala kunembangela eyodwa eyinhloko—ukwehluleka ukuqonda konke okushiwo ukuzinikezela. Akuyona indaba yokuzinikezela emsebenzini. Lokho bekungasigcina simatasa kodwa bekungeke kusenze abantu abangokomoya. Sidinga ukukhumbula ukuthi asizinikezelanga emsebenzini kodwa kuMuntu—uJehova uNkulunkulu. Lokho kusisiza ukuba sigweme iphutha lokubheka ukuzinikezela kwethu njengesinyathelo esiyinqubo evamile okufanele sisithathe ngaphambi kokuba siqhubeke nomsebenzi. Ukuzinikezela kufanele kubhekwe njengokungenela ubuhlobo obubalulekile okumelwe buqashelwe ngaso sonke isikhathi futhi bulondolozwe. Kulokhu, sinesibonelo sikaJesu Kristu. Lamazwi angokwesiprofetho abonisa isimo sakhe esisuka enhliziyweni lapho eziletha kuJehova: “Ngiyeza . . . ngiyathanda ukwenza intando yakho, Nkulunkulu wami, nomthetho wakho [usezibilini, NW] zami.”—IHubo 40:6-8; Heberu 10:5-10.
18. Kukanjani ukuthi umthetho kaNkulunkulu ‘wawusezibilini’ zikaJesu?
18 Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba umthetho kaJehova ube ‘sezibilini’ zikaJesu? Watshela umbhali ongumJuda ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu munye nokuthi akekho omunye, kanjalo egcizelela ukuphakama kukaJehova. UJesu wabe esebonisa ukuthi ingqikithi yomthetho kaJehova iqukethe ukuthanda uJehova ngenhliziyo yethu yonke, ukuqonda, namandla, kuyilapho sithanda umakhelwane wethu njengoba sizithanda. (Marku 12:28-34) Lokho kuyisizathu esiyisisekelo sokuthi kungani uJesu ayengathi, ‘ngiyathanda ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu.’ Wakwazi ukunamathela enkambweni yakhe ngokwethembeka naphezu kovivinyo olukhulu nokuhlupheka, hhayi nje ngenxa yokuthi wabona lokhu kuwumsebenzi omuhle kodwa ngenxa yokuthi wayenobuhlobo obuseduze noJehova uNkulunkulu. Uma sivuma ukuphakama kukaJehova ngokufanayo futhi simthande ngesibopho esinganqamuki, siyophila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwethu nobhapathizo.
19. Yikuphi ukuxhumana okukhona phakathi kobuhlobo bethu noJehova nomsebenzi esiwenzayo?
19 Yebo, kunokuxhumana phakathi kobuhlobo bethu noNkulunkulu nomsebenzi esiwenzayo. Sibonisa uthando ngoJehova ngokwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Ngokuqondene nalokhu, umufi uGrant Suiter, owayeyilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova, wake wabhala: “Njengoba ngangilalele [umbonisi othile ojikelezayo] ekhuluma ngamalungelo okukhonza uJehova nesibopho sokwenza kanjalo, ngaqaphela ukuthi kwakufanele ngenzeni nalokho engangifuna ukukwenza. Ngakho ngazinikezela ngokomuntu siqu kuJehova, futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo amanye amalungu omkhaya wakithi nawo enza kanjalo. Ngo-October 10, 1926, eSan Jose, eCalifornia, sonke sabonakalisa ndawonye ukuzinikezela kwethu kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngo-kucwiliswa emanzini. . . . Ngemva kobhapathizo . . . ubaba wathi kumdala owayengamele ubhapathizo: ‘Nihambisa izincwadi, akunjalo? Nathi futhi, manje sifuna ukwenza lowomsebenzi.’ Ngakho umkhaya wakithi waqalisa enkonzweni yasensimini.” Namuhla, abantu abafanelekayo baqala ukuba nengxenye egcwele enkonzweni yasensimini ngisho nangaphambi kokuba babhapathizwe.
Ubhapathizo Lungasisindisa
20, 21. (a) Izigqila zikaJehova ‘ziphawulwa’ ngayiphi indlela? (b) Luyini ‘loluphawu,’ futhi ukuba nalo kusho ukuthini?
20 Ngemisebenzi yethu, singabonisa ukuthi “singabakaJehova.” Phela, insindiso ixhomeke ekusebenzeni ngokwethembeka njengezigqila zakhe ezizinikezele! (Roma 6:20-23; 14:7, 8) Ezikhathini zamandulo, ngokuvamile izigqila zazibekwa uphawu ebunzini. Ngomsebenzi wokushumayela namuhla, ‘wendoda embethe ilineni’ eyayifanekiselwa—insali yabalandeli bakaJesu abagcotshiwe—‘ibabeka uphawu’ labo abayosinda ekupheleni kwalesimiso. Kulomsebenzi abagcotshiwe basizwa abangane babo, “ezinye izimvu.” (Hezekeli 9:1-7; Johane 10:16) Futhi luyini “uphawu”? Luwubufakazi bokuthi sizinikezele kuJehova nokuthi singabafundi bakaJesu ababhapathiziwe abanobuntu obunjengobukaKristu.
21 Ikakhulukazi manje kubalulekile ukuba sibe ‘nophawu’ futhi silulondoloze, ngoba singene shi ‘esikhathini sokugcina.’ (Daniyeli 12:4) Ukuze sisindiswe kumelwe ‘sikhuthazele kuze kube-sekupheleni’ kokuphila kwethu kwamanje noma kwalesimiso. (Mathewu 24:13) Ubhapathizo luyosisindisa kuphela uma sihlala sithembekile njengoFakazi BakaJehova.
Imibuzo Yokubukeza
◻ Ukuze sisindiswe, yini edingekayo kithi?
◻ Kungani abadala beba nezingxoxo nalabo abafuna ukubhapathizwa?
◻ Bangenzani abazali ukuze banikeze abantwana babo isiqondiso esingokomoya esiholela ekubhapathizweni?
◻ Ingabe sizinikezela emsebenzini?
◻ Ubhapathizo lungasisindisa kanjani?
[Isithombe ekhasini 16]
Ingabe uyazi ukuthi ubhapathizo lufana kanjani nokusindiswa kukaNowa nomkhaya wakhe emkhunjini?
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Ukuzinikezela nobhapathizo kuyabazuzisa abantu abasha. Ingabe uyazi ukuthi kanjani?