AmaKristu Angathathi Hlangothi Ezinsukwini Zokugcina
“Abayona ingxenye yezwe, njengoba nje nami ngingeyona ingxenye yezwe.”—JOHANE 17:16.
1, 2. UJesu wathini ngobudlelwane babalandeli bakhe nezwe, futhi amazwi akhe enza kube namiphi imibuzo?
NGOBUSUKU bokugcina bokuphila kwakhe njengomuntu ophelele, uJesu wathandaza umthandazo omude abafundi bakhe bemuzwa. Kulowo mthandazo, washo into echaza ukuphila kwawo wonke amaKristu eqiniso. Ekhuluma ngabalandeli bakhe, wathi: “Ngibaniké izwi lakho, kodwa izwe liye labazonda, ngoba bengeyona ingxenye yezwe, njengoba nje nami ngingeyona ingxenye yezwe. Angikuceli ukuba ubakhiphe ezweni, kodwa ukuba ubabheke ngenxa yomubi. Abayona ingxenye yezwe, njengoba nje nami ngingeyona ingxenye yezwe.”—Johane 17:14-16.
2 Kabili uJesu wathi abalandeli bakhe babengeke babe ingxenye yezwe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lokho kwahlukana kwakuyobabangela amazinyo abushelelezi—izwe laliyobazonda. Noma kunjalo, kwakungadingekile amaKristu adumale; uJehova wayezowabheka. (IzAga 18:10; Mathewu 24:9, 13) Ngenxa yala mazwi kaJesu, singase sibuze: ‘Kungani amaKristu eqiniso engeyona ingxenye yezwe? Kusho ukuthini ukungabi ingxenye yezwe? Uma amaKristu ezondwa yizwe, wona alibheka kanjani? Ababheka kanjani ohulumeni bezwe ikakhulukazi?’ Zibalulekile izimpendulo zale mibuzo ezivela emiBhalweni ngoba ziyasithinta.
“Sisuka KuNkulunkulu”
3. (a) Yini esenza sihluke ezweni? (b) Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona bokuthi izwe “lisemandleni omubi”?
3 Esinye isizathu esenza singabi ingxenye yezwe ubuhlobo bethu obuseduze noJehova. Umphostoli uJohane wabhala: “Siyazi ukuthi sisuka kuNkulunkulu, kodwa lonke izwe lisemandleni omubi.” (1 Johane 5:19) Kuyabonakala ukuthi amazwi kaJohane mayelana nezwe ayiqiniso. Izimpi, ubugebengu, unya, ukucindezela, ukungathembeki nokuziphatha okubi okwande kangaka namuhla kuwubufakazi bethonya likaSathane, hhayi elikaNkulunkulu. (Johane 12:31; 2 Korinte 4:4; Efesu 6:12) Lapho umuntu eba omunye woFakazi BakaJehova, akabe esazenza izinto ezinjalo ezimbi noma avumelane nazo, futhi lokho kumenza angabi ingxenye yezwe.—Roma 12:2; 13:12-14; 1 Korinte 6:9-11; 1 Johane 3:10-12.
4. Sibonisa ngaziphi izindlela ukuthi singabakaJehova?
4 UJohane wathi amaKristu, ngokungafani nezwe, ‘asuka kuNkulunkulu.’ Bonke abazinikezela kuJehova bangabakhe. Umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Kokubili uma siphila, siphilela uJehova, futhi uma sifa, sifela uJehova. Ngakho-ke kokubili uma siphila noma sifa, singabakaJehova.” (Roma 14:8; IHubo 116:15) Ngenxa yokuthi singabakaJehova, sizinikele kuye kuphela. (Eksodusi 20:4-6) Ngakho, umKristu weqiniso akanikeli ukuphila kwakhe emgomweni othile wezwe. Futhi nakuba ezihlonipha izimpawu ezimelela isizwe, akazikhulekeli, ngezenzo noma ngenhliziyo. Ngokuqinisekile akazikhulekeli izihlabani zemidlalo noma abanye osaziwayo abakhonziwe. Yiqiniso, uyalihlonipha ilungelo labanye lokwenza abakuthandayo, kodwa yena ukhulekela uMdali kuphela. (Mathewu 4:10; IsAmbulo 19:10) Nalokhu kumenza ahluke ezweni.
“Umbuso Wami Awuyona Ingxenye Yalelizwe”
5, 6. Ukuzithoba eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu kusenza kanjani sihluke ezweni?
5 AmaKristu angabalandeli bakaKristu Jesu futhi ayizikhonzi zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, okungokunye futhi okuwenza angabi ingxenye yezwe. Lapho equliswa phambi kukaPontiyu Pilatu, uJesu wathi: “Umbuso wami awuyona ingxenye yalelizwe. Ukuba umbuso wami ubuyingxenye yalelizwe, izikhonzi zami beziyokulwa ukuze nginganikelwa kumaJuda. Kodwa, njengoba kunjalo, umbuso wami awuveli kulomthombo.” (Johane 18:36) UMbuso uyithuluzi okuyongcweliswa ngalo igama likaJehova, kulwelwe ubukhosi bakhe, nentando yakhe yenziwe emhlabeni njengasezulwini. (Mathewu 6:9, 10) Kuyo yonke inkonzo yakhe, uJesu washumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso futhi wathi zaziyomenyezelwa abalandeli bakhe kuze kube sekupheleni kwesimiso sezinto. (Mathewu 4:23; 24:14) Ngo-1914 amazwi ayisiprofetho esAmbulo 11:15 agcwaliseka: “Umbuso wezwe ngempela uye waba umbuso weNkosi yethu nokaKristu wayo, futhi iyobusa njengenkosi kuze kube phakade naphakade.” Maduze nje, lowo Mbuso wasezulwini kuzoba ukuphela kwawo obusa isintu. (Daniyeli 2:44) Kuzohamba kuhambe ngisho nababusi bezwe baphoqeleke ukulivuma igunya lawo.—IHubo 2:6-12.
6 Azi konke lokho, amaKristu eqiniso namuhla azithoba eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu, futhi alandela iseluleko sikaJesu ‘sokuqhubeka efuna kuqala umbuso nokulunga kukaNkulunkulu.’ (Mathewu 6:33) Lokho akusho ukuthi ayawahlamuka amazwe ahlala kuwo, kodwa kusho ukuthi ahlukile ezweni ngokomoya. Njengasekhulwini lokuqala, umsebenzi oyinhloko wamaKristu namuhla ‘ukunikeza ubufakazi ngokuphathelene nombuso kaNkulunkulu.’ (IzEnzo 28:23) Akukho hulumeni wabantu onelungelo lokuthiya lowo msebenzi awunikwe uNkulunkulu.
7. Kungani amaKristu eqiniso engathathi hlangothi, futhi akubonise kanjani lokhu?
7 Njengoba bengabakaJehova futhi bengabalandeli bakaJesu nezikhonzi zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, oFakazi BakaJehova bebelokhu bengathathi hlangothi ezimpini zekhulu lama-20 nelama-21 zamazwe abahlala kuwo nezomhlaba. Abachemanga namuntu, abaphakamiselanga muntu isikhali, futhi abazange basakaze nkulumo-ze ngenxa yomgomo othile wezwe. Bebonisa ukholo oluphawulekayo bebhekene nokuphikiswa okubonakala kungaphezu kwamandla, baye balandela izimiso ezashiwo kubabusi bamaNazi eJalimane ngo-1934: “Asingene ezindabeni zezombusazwe; sizinikele ngokuphelele embusweni kaNkulunkulu ngaphansi kukaKristu iNkosi yakhe. Ngeke silimaze muntu. Singakujabulela kakhulu ukuhlala ngokuthula nokwenza okuhle kubo bonke abantu ngamathuba esiwatholayo.”
Amanxusa Nezithunywa ZikaKristu
8, 9. OFakazi BakaJehova namuhla bangamanxusa nezithunywa ngayiphi indlela, futhi lokhu kubuthinta kanjani ubudlelwane babo nezizwe?
8 Ezisho yena kanye namanye amaKristu agcotshiwe, uPawulu wathi: “Singamanxusa abambele uKristu, njengokungathi uNkulunkulu uncenga ngathi.” (2 Korinte 5:20; Efesu 6:20) Kusukela ngo-1914, kungashiwo kufanele ukuthi amaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya angamanxusa oMbuso kaNkulunkulu, ‘angamadodana’ awo. (Mathewu 13:38; Filipi 3:20; IsAmbulo 5:9, 10) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova uye wakhipha ezizweni “isixuku esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu,’ amaKristu anethemba lokuphila emhlabeni, ukuze sisekele amadodana agcotshiwe emsebenzini wawo wokuba amanxusa. (IsAmbulo 7:9; Johane 10:16) Lezi “ezinye izimvu” zingabizwa ngokuthi “izithunywa” zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.
9 Inxusa nalabo elisebenza nabo abazigaxi ezindabeni zezwe abakulo. Ngokufanayo, namaKristu awathathi hlangothi kwezombusazwe zamazwe omhlaba. Awachemi noma aphikisane nanoma iliphi iqembu lesizwe, lohlanga, lomphakathi noma lezezimali. (IzEnzo 10:34, 35) Kunalokho, ‘asebenza okuhle kubo bonke.’ (Galathiya 6:10) Ukungathathi hlangothi koFakazi BakaJehova kwenza kungabi namuntu ongawenqaba efanele umyalezo wabo ngoba ethi bahambisana neqembu eliphikisayo lohlanga, noma isizwe esithile.
Babonakala Ngothando
10. Lubaluleke kangakanani uthando kumKristu?
10 Ngaphezu kwalokhu osekushiwo, amaKristu awathathi hlangothi ezindabeni zezwe ngenxa yobuhlobo bawo namanye amaKristu. UJesu wathi kubalandeli bakhe: “Bonke bayokwazi ngalokhu ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma ninothando phakathi kwenu.” (Johane 13:35) Uthando lobuzalwane yisona sihluthulelo ekubeni umKristu. (1 Johane 3:14) Njengoba buhlobene nobuhlobo bakhe noJehova noJesu, ubuhlobo umKristu anabo namanye amaKristu buseduze kakhulu. Uthando lwakhe alugcini kulabo abasebandleni akulo. Luhlanganisa “yonke inhlangano [yabafowabo] ezweni.”—1 Petru 5:9.
11. Ukuziphatha koFakazi BakaJehova kuthonywe kanjani uthando abanalo phakathi kwabo?
11 Namuhla, oFakazi BakaJehova babonisa uthando lwabo lobuzalwane ngokufeza amazwi aku-Isaya 2:4 athi: “Bayakukhanda izinkemba zabo zibe ngamakhuba, nemikhonto yabo ibe ngocelemba; isizwe asiyikuphakamisela isizwe inkemba, zingabe zisafunda ukulwa.” Njengoba efundiswa uJehova, amaKristu eqiniso anokuthula noNkulunkulu naphakathi kwawo ewodwa. (Isaya 54:13) Ngenxa yokuthi athanda uNkulunkulu nabafowabo, kuyinto angenakuyicabanga ukuphakamisela amaKristu akholwa nawo inkemba—nanoma ubani omunye—kwamanye amazwe. Ukuthula nobunye bawo kuyingxenye ebalulekile yokukhulekela kwawo, okubonisa ukuthi ngempela anomoya kaNkulunkulu. (IHubo 133:1; Mika 2:12; Mathewu 22:37-39; Kolose 3:14) ‘Afuna ukuthula akujonge,’ azi ukuthi “amehlo kaJehova akubo abalungileyo.”—IHubo 34:14, 15.
Indlela AmaKristu Abheka Ngayo Izwe
12. OFakazi BakaJehova balingisa siphi isimo sengqondo sikaJehova ngokuqondene nabantu emhlabeni, futhi kanjani?
12 UJehova ukhiphe isahlulelo sokulilahla leli zwe, kodwa akakabehluleli abantu ngabanye kulo. Lokho uzokwenza ngoJesu ngesikhathi saKhe. (IHubo 67:3, 4; Mathewu 25:31-46; 2 Petru 3:10) Okwamanje usasibonisa uthando olukhulu isintu. Waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuze wonke umuntu abe nethuba lokuzuza ukuphila okuphakade. (Johane 3:16) NjengamaKristu, silingisa uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngokutshela abanye ngamalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu ensindiso, ngisho noma imizamo yethu ivama ukunganakwa.
13. Kufanele sibabheke kanjani ababusi bezwe?
13 Kufanele sibabheke kanjani ababusi bezwe? UPawulu wawuphendula lowo mbuzo lapho ebhala: “Yonke imiphefumulo mayizithobe emagunyeni aphakeme, ngoba akukho gunya elikhona kungengoNkulunkulu; amagunya akhona ami ezikhundleni zawo ezilinganiselwe ebekwe uNkulunkulu.” (Roma 13:1, 2) Abantu basezikhundleni “ezilinganiselwe” zegunya (bangaphezu noma bangaphansi kwabanye abantu, kodwa ngaso sonke isikhathi bangaphansi kukaJehova) ngoba uMninimandla onke ubavumele. UmKristu uzithoba egunyeni lezwe ngoba lokho kuyisici sokulalela kwakhe uJehova. Kuthiwani-ke uma kuba khona ukushayisana phakathi kwezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu nezikahulumeni?
Umthetho KaNkulunkulu NokaKesari
14, 15. (a) UDaniyeli wakwazi kanjani ukugwema ukungqubuzana endabeni yokulalela? (b) Enze njani amaHeberu amathathu lapho kungasenakugwenywa ukungqubuzana endabeni yokulalela?
14 UDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu bayisibonelo esihle sokulinganisela phakathi kokuzithoba kohulumeni babantu nokuzithoba egunyeni likaNkulunkulu. Lapho la maHeberu amasha amane esekudingisweni eBabiloni, ayilalela imithetho yalelo zwe futhi ngokushesha aqokelwa ukuba athole ukuqeqeshwa okukhethekile. Eqaphela ukuthi lokho kuqeqeshwa kwakungase kuholele ekungqubuzaneni noMthetho kaJehova, uDaniyeli wayixoxa nesikhulu esiphethe le ndaba. Ngenxa yalokho, kwenziwa amalungiselelo akhethekile ukuze kuhlonishwe onembeza bala maHeberu amane. (Daniyeli 1:8-17) OFakazi BakaJehova basuke belandela isibonelo sikaDaniyeli lapho bechaza isimo sabo kwabaphethe ukuze bagweme izinkinga ezingadingekile.
15 Nokho, kamuva akuzange kugwemeke ukungqubuzana endabeni yokuzithoba. Inkosi yaseBabiloni yamisa isithombe esikhulu ethafeni laseDura yayisiyala ukuba izikhulu eziphakeme, kuhlanganise nabaphathizifunda, babuthane lapho sivulwa. Ngalesi sikhathi, abangane abathathu bakaDaniyeli base bemiswe njengabaphathizifunda baseBabiloni, ngakho lo myalo wawubathinta. Phakathi nalowo mcimbi, bonke ababekhona kwakufanele bakhothame phambi kwesithombe. Kodwa la maHeberu ayazi ukuthi lokhu kwakuyobe kumelene nomthetho kaNkulunkulu. (Duteronomi 5:8-10) Ngakho lapho bonke abanye bekhothama, wona aqhubeka emile. Ngokungawulaleli umyalo wenkosi, ayezibeka engozini yokufa kabuhlungu, futhi yisimangaliso kuphela esasindisa ukuphila kwawo; kodwa akhetha ukubeka ukuphila kwawo engozini kunokungamlaleli uJehova.—Daniyeli 2:49–3:29.
16, 17. Abaphostoli bathini lapho beyalwa ukuba bayeke ukushumayela, futhi ngani?
16 Ekhulwini lokuqala, abaphostoli bakaJesu Kristu babizelwa phambi kwabaholi bamaJuda eJerusalema bayalwa ukuba bayeke ukushumayela ngegama likaJesu. Benze njani? UJesu wayebathume ukuba benze abafundi kuzo zonke izizwe, okwakuzohlanganisa neJudiya. Wayebatshele nokuthi babe ofakazi bakhe eJerusalema nakulo lonke izwe. (Mathewu 28:19, 20; IzEnzo 1:8) Abaphostoli babazi ukuthi imiyalo kaJesu yayimelela lokho okuyintando kaNkulunkulu ngabo. (Johane 5:30; 8:28) Ngakho, bathi: “Kumelwe silalele uNkulunkulu njengombusi kunabantu.”—IzEnzo 4:19, 20; 5:29.
17 Abaphostoli babengavukeli. (IzAga 24:21) Noma kunjalo, lapho ababusi abangabantu bebanqabela ukuba benze intando kaNkulunkulu, akukho okunye ababengakusho kunokuthi, ‘Kumelwe silalele uNkulunkulu, hhayi abantu.’ UJesu wathi kufanele ‘sibuyisele izinto zikaKesari kuKesari, kodwa izinto zikaNkulunkulu kuNkulunkulu.’ (Marku 12:17) Uma siphula umyalo kaNkulunkulu ngoba kusho abantu, sesinika abantu okungokukaNkulunkulu. Kunokwenza kanjalo, sibuyisela kuKesari konke esimkweleta kona, kodwa siqaphela igunya likaJehova eliphakeme. UnguMbusi Wendawo Yonke, uMdali, uMthombo walo lonke igunya.—IsAmbulo 4:11.
Sizoma Siqinile
18, 19. Abafowethu abaningi baye basibekela kanjani isibonelo lapho bephikiswa, futhi singabalingisa kanjani?
18 Okwamanje, ohulumeni abaningi bezwe bayakuqaphela ukungathathi hlangothi koFakazi BakaJehova, futhi siyakwazisa lokho. Nokho, kwamanye amazwe, oFakazi baye baphikiswa kakhulu. Kulo lonke ikhulu lama-20 kuze kube manje, abanye babafowethu nodadewethu baye balwa kanzima ngomqondo ongokomoya, belwa “ukulwa okuhle kokholo.”—1 Thimothewu 6:12.
19 Singama kanjani siqinile njengabo? Okokuqala, siyakhumbula ukuthi kumelwe sikulindele ukuphikiswa. Akufanele sishaqeke noma simangale lapho sihlangana nakho. UPawulu waxwayisa uThimothewu wathi: “Bonke labo abafisa ukuphila ngokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ebuhlotsheni noKristu Jesu nabo futhi bayoshushiswa.” (2 Thimothewu 3:12; 1 Petru 4:12) Kuleli zwe elibuswa ithonya likaSathane, kungenzeka kanjani ukuba singahlangabezani nokuphikiswa? (IsAmbulo 12:17) Uma nje sisathembekile, kuyohlale kukhona ‘abakhungathekayo futhi abaqhubeka bekhuluma ngathi ngokuchapha.’—1 Petru 4:4.
20. Imaphi amaqiniso aqinisayo esiwakhunjuzwayo?
20 Okwesibili, siyaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova nezingelosi zakhe bayosisekela. Njengoba u-Elisha wasendulo asho, “abanathi baningi kunabanabo.” (2 AmaKhosi 6:16; IHubo 34:7) Kungenzeka ukuthi uJehova uvumela ukucindezela kwabaphikisi ukuba kuqhubeke isikhashana ukuze kufezeke injongo yakhe enhle. Noma kunjalo, ngaso sonke isikhathi uyosinikeza amandla esiwadingayo ukuze sikhuthazele. (Isaya 41:9, 10) Abanye baye badela ukuphila kwabo, kodwa lokho akusidikibalisi. UJesu wathi: “Ningabesabi labo ababulala umzimba kodwa bengenakuwubulala umphefumulo; kodwa kunalokho yesabani lowo ongabhubhisa kokubili umphefumulo nomzimba eGehena.” (Mathewu 10:16-23, 28) Simane ‘siyizakhamuzi zesikhashana’ kulesi simiso sezinto. Isikhathi esisihleli lapha sisisebenzisela ‘ukubambisisa ukuphila kwangempela,’ ukuphila okuphakade ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu. (1 Petru 2:11; 1 Thimothewu 6:19) Akukho muntu ongasiphuca lowo mvuzo uma nje sihlala sithembekile kuNkulunkulu.
21. Yini okufanele siyikhumbule njalo?
21 Ngakho, masikhumbule ubuhlobo obuyigugu esinabo noJehova uNkulunkulu. Kwangathi njalo singasazisa isibusiso sokuba abalandeli bakaKristu nezikhonzi zoMbuso. Masibathande ngenhliziyo yonke abafowethu, futhi kwangathi singahlale silujabulela uthando lwabo. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, masilalele amazwi omhubi: “Lindela uJehova, uqine, inhliziyo yakho ime isibindi; yebo, lindela uJehova.” (IHubo 27:14; Isaya 54:17) Ngakho nathi, njengamaKristu amaningi angaphambi kwethu, siyoma siqine ethembeni lethu eliqinisekile—njengamaKristu angathathi hlangothi angeyona ingxenye yezwe.
Ungachaza?
• Ubuhlobo bethu noJehova busenza kanjani sihluke kuleli zwe?
• Njengezikhonzi zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, sizigcina kanjani singathathi hlangothi kuleli zwe?
• Uthando lwethu ngabafowethu lusigcina kanjani singathathi hlangothi, sihlukene nezwe?
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
Ukuzithoba kwethu eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu kubuthinta kanjani ubudlelwane bethu nezwe?
[Isithombe ekhasini 16]
UmHutu nomTutsi besebenza ndawonye ngenjabulo
[Isithombe ekhasini 17]
Abazalwane abangamaJuda nabangama-Arabhu
[Isithombe ekhasini 17]
AmaKristu aseSerbia, aseBosnia nawaseCroatia ajabulela ukuba ndawonye
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Kufanele senze njani lapho ababusi besiyala ukuba sephule umthetho kaNkulunkulu?