Basha, Khethani Ukukhonza UJehova
“Zikhetheleni namuhla ukuthi nizokhonza bani.”—JOSHUWA 24:15.
1, 2. Iziphi izinhlobo zobhapathizo ezingalungile eziye zenziwa kweLobukholwa?
ABANTWANA “mababe amaKristu lapho sebekwazi ukumazi uKristu.” Umlobi okuthiwa uTertullian waloba lawo mazwi ekupheleni kwekhulu lesibili leminyaka C.E. Wayephikisana nokubhapathizwa kwezinsana, umkhuba owawusuthanda ukugxila ebuKristwini bezihlubuki bosuku lwakhe. Engavumelani noTertullian kanye neBhayibheli, uBaba Wesonto u-Augustine wathi ubhapathizo lususa ibala lesono sokuqala futhi izinsana ezifa zingabhapathiziwe ziya esihogweni. Leyo nkolelo yabhebhethekisa umkhuba wokubhapathiza izingane ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka ngemva kokuba zizelwe.
2 Amasonto amaningi amakhulu eLobukholwa asazibhapathiza izinsana. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuwo wonke umlando “amaqaba” ayenqotshiwe ayebhapathizwa ngempoqo ngababusi nabaholi benkolo bezizwe ezithi zingezobuKristu. Kodwa ukubhapathiza izinsana nokubhapathiza abantu abadala ngempoqo akuveli eBhayibhelini.
Ukunikezelwa Okuzenzakalelayo Akusebenzi Namuhla
3, 4. Yini engasiza abantwana babazali abazinikezele ukuba bazinikezele ngokuzithandela?
3 IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubheka abantwana abasebancane njengabangcwele ngisho noma benomzali oyedwa kuphela ongumKristu othembekile. (1 Korinte 7:14) Ingabe lokho kwenza labo bantwana babe izinceku zikaJehova ezizinikezele? Cha. Nokho, abantwana abakhuliswa abazali abazinikezele kuJehova bathola ukuqeqeshwa okungabaholela ekubeni bazinikezele kuJehova ngokuzithandela. Inkosi ehlakaniphile uSolomoni yabhala: “O ndodana yami, gcina umyalo kayihlo, ungawushiyi umthetho kanyoko. . . . Lapho uhamba, iyokuhola; lapho ulala, iyokuqapha; nalapho usuvukile, iyokwenza ube yinto ekukhathalelayo. Ngoba umyalo uyisibani, nomthetho ungukukhanya, nokusola kwesiyalo kuyindlela yokuphila.”—IzAga 6:20-23.
4 Isiqondiso sabazali abangamaKristu singayivikela intsha, kuphela uma ithanda ukusilandela. USolomoni wabuye wathi: “Indodana ehlakaniphile yileyo eyenza uyise ajabule, kanti indodana eyisiphukuphuku iwusizi lukanina.” “Wena, ndodana yami, yizwa uhlakaniphe, uhole inhliziyo yakho endleleni.” (IzAga 10:1; 23:19) Basha, ukuze nizuze ekuqeqeshweni abazali, kumelwe nizimisele ukwamukela iseluleko nesiyalo. Anizalwa nihlakaniphile, kodwa ‘ningahlakanipha’ futhi ngokuzithandela nilandele “indlela yokuphila.”
Kuyini Ukuqondisa Umqondo?
5. Isiphi iseluleko uPawulu asinika abantwana nobaba?
5 Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Bantwana, lalelani abazali benu abanobunye neNkosi, ngoba lokhu kulungile, ukuthi: ‘Hlonipha uyihlo nonyoko’; okuwumyalo wokuqala onalesi sithembiso: ‘Ukuze kukuhambele kahle futhi uhlale isikhathi eside emhlabeni.’ Nani bobaba, ningabacasuli abantwana benu, kodwa qhubekani nibakhulisa ngesiyalo nangokuqondisa umqondo kukaJehova.”—Efesu 6:1-4.
6, 7. Yini ehilelekile ekukhuliseni abantwana “ngokuqondisa umqondo kukaJehova,” futhi kungani lokhu kungenakusho ukuthi abazali babathonya ngokungafanele abantwana babo?
6 Ingabe abazali abangamaKristu basuke bebathonya ngokungafanele abantwana babo lapho bebakhulisa “ngesiyalo nangokuqondisa umqondo kukaJehova”? Cha. Ubani ongagxeka abazali ngokufundisa abantwana babo lokho bona abakubheka njengokufanele nokuzuzisayo ngokokuziphatha? Abantu abathi uNkulunkulu akekho abagxekwa lapho beyifundisa abantwana babo le mfundiso. AmaRoma Katolika azizwa enesibopho sokukhulisa abantwana bawo ngokholo lwamaKatolika, futhi kuyaqabukela egxekwa ngemizamo yawo yokwenza kanjalo. Ngokufanayo, noFakazi BakaJehova akufanele babekwe icala lokuthi balawula umqondo wabantwana babo lapho bebafundisa ukuba bamukele umbono kaJehova ngamaqiniso ayisisekelo nangezimiso zokuziphatha.
7 Ngokwe-Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, igama lokuqala lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi ‘ukuqondisa umqondo’ kweyabase-Efesu 6:4 libhekisela enqubweni “yokuzama ukulungisa umqondo, ukulungisa obekungalungile, ukuthuthukisa isimo esingokomoya.” Kuthiwani uma ingane ingakwamukeli ukuqeqesha kwabazali ngenxa yokucindezela kontanga, ingafuni ukwehluka eningini? Ubani okungathiwa unethonya elibi—abazali noma ontanga bale ngane? Uma ontanga becindezela osemusha ukuba adle izidakamizwa, eqise ophuzweni, noma ahileleke ekuziphatheni okubi, ingabe kufanele kugxekwe abazali ngokuzama ukulungisa ukucabanga kwengane yabo nangokuyisiza ukuba iqaphele imiphumela yokuziphatha okunjalo okuyingozi?
8. Yini eyayihilelekile ‘ekuthonyeni uThimothewu ukuba abe yikholwa’?
8 Umphostoli uPawulu wabhalela insizwa enguThimothewu: “Qhubeka ezintweni owazifunda futhi wathonyelwa ukuba uzikholelwe, wazi ukuthi wazifunda kobani nokuthi kusukela usewusana uye wazi imibhalo engcwele, ekwazi ukukuhlakaniphisela insindiso ngokholo olumayelana noKristu Jesu.” (2 Thimothewu 3:14, 15) Kusukela uThimothewu esemncane, unina noninakhulu babeye bagxilisa ukholo lwakhe kuNkulunkulu olwazini lwemiBhalo Engcwele. (IzEnzo 16:1; 2 Thimothewu 1:5) Kamuva, lapho beba amaKristu, abazange baphoqe uThimothewu ukuba abe yikholwa kodwa ‘bamthonya’ ngokumnikeza izizathu ezinengqondo ezisekelwe olwazini lwemiBhalo.
UJehova Ukumema Ukuba Ukhethe
9. (a) UJehova wazihlonipha kanjani izidalwa zakhe, futhi ngasiphi isizathu? (b) INdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa yayisebenzisa kanjani inkululeko yokuzikhethela?
9 UJehova wayengenza izidalwa zakhe zibe njengemishini, ziklanyelwe ukwenza intando yakhe kuphela. Kunalokho, wazihlonipha wazinika inkululeko yokuzikhethela. UNkulunkulu wethu ufuna abantu abamkhonza ngokuzithandela. Uyajabula lapho ebona izidalwa zakhe, ezindala nezincane, zimkhonza ngoba zishukunyiswa uthando. INdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa iyisibonelo esihle kunazo zonke somuntu ozithoba ngokuzithandela entandweni kaNkulunkulu. UJehova wathi ngayo: “Lo yiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engiyamukele.” (Mathewu 3:17) Le Ndodana eyizibulo yathi kuYise: “O Nkulunkulu wami, ngikujabulele ukwenza intando yakho, nomthetho wakho usezibilinini zami.”—IHubo 40:8; Hebheru 10:9, 10.
10. Siyini isimiso esiyisisekelo sokukhonza uJehova ngokwamukelekayo?
10 UJehova ulindele ukuba labo abamkhonza beqondiswa iNdodana yakhe babonise ukuzithoba ngokuzithandela okufanayo entandweni yaKhe. Eprofetha, umhubi wahlabelela: “Abantu bakho bayozinikela ngokuzithandela ngosuku lwempi yakho. Ebukhazikhazini bobungcwele, kusukela esibelethweni sokuntwela kokusa, uneqembu lakho lezinsizwa elinjengamaconsi amazolo.” (IHubo 110:3) Yonke inhlangano kaJehova, ingxenye esezulwini nengxenye yayo esemhlabeni, ilawulwa isimiso esiyisisekelo sokuzithoba ngokuzithandela entandweni kaNkulunkulu.
11. Ikuphi ukukhetha abasha abakhuliswe abazali abazinikezele okumelwe bakwenze?
11 Ngakho nina basha kufanele niqonde ukuthi abazali benu kanye nabadala abangamaKristu ebandleni ngeke baniphoqe ukuba nibhapathizwe. Isifiso sokukhonza uJehova kumelwe siphume kini. UJoshuwa wasendulo watshela u-Israyeli: “Umkhonze [uJehova] ngokungabi naphutha nangeqiniso . . . Zikhetheleni namuhla ukuthi nizokhonza bani.” (Joshuwa 24:14-22) Ngokufanayo, kumelwe kusuke kini ukuthi nikhetha ukuzinikezela kuJehova futhi nisebenzise ukuphila kwenu ekwenzeni intando yakhe.
Ukuthwala Umthwalo Wakho Wemfanelo
12. (a) Nakuba abazali bengaziqeqesha izingane zabo, yini abangeke bakwazi ukuyenzela izingane zabo? (b) Umuntu omusha uqala nini ukuba nomthwalo wemfanelo phambi kukaJehova ngokukhetha akwenzayo?
12 Basha, njengoba nikhula, kufika isikhathi lapho ukwethembeka kwabazali benu kungasanivikeli khona. (1 Korinte 7:14) Umfundi uJakobe wabhala: “Uma umuntu azi ukuthi angakwenza kanjani okuhle kodwa angakwenzi, kuyisono kuye.” (Jakobe 4:17) Ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kuyinto abazali abangenakukwazi ukuyenzela izingane zabo njengoba nje nazo zingeke zabakhonzela. (Hezekeli 18:20) Usufundile yini ngoJehova nangezinjongo zakhe? Ingabe usumdala ngokwanele ukuba ukuqonde lokho okufundile futhi uqale ukuzakhela ubuhlobo bomuntu siqu naye? Ngeke yini kube nengqondo ukucabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukubheka njengonamandla okunquma ukuthi uyafuna yini ukumkhonza?
13. Imiphi imibuzo intsha engabhapathiziwe eyenza kahle ngokuzibuza yona?
13 Ingabe ungumuntu osemusha ongabhapathiziwe okhuliswa abazali abesaba uNkulunkulu, oya emihlanganweni yobuKristu futhi ahlanganyele ngisho nasekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso? Uma kunjalo, zibuze ngobuqotho: ‘Ngikwenzelani lokhu? Ingabe ngiya emihlanganweni futhi ngihlanganyele emsebenzini wokushumayela ngenxa nje yokuthi abazali bami balindele ukuba ngikwenze noma kungenxa yokuthi ngifuna ukujabulisa uJehova?’ Ingabe usuzitholele ngokwakho lokho “okuyintando kaNkulunkulu enhle neyamukelekayo nepheleleyo”?—Roma 12:2.
Kungani Uhlehlisa Ukubhapathizwa?
14. Iziphi izibonelo eziseBhayibhelini ezibonisa ukuthi akufanele umuntu azindele ukubhapathizwa ngaphandle kwesizathu?
14 “Yini engivimbela ukuba ngibhapathizwe?” Indoda engumTopiya eyabuza umvangeli uFiliphu lowo mbuzo yayisanda kuthola ukuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya. Kodwa umTopiya wayenolwazi olwanele lwemiBhalo ukuba aqaphele ukuthi kwakungafanele azindele ukubonisa obala ukuthi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke wayezokhonza uJehova njengelungu lebandla lobuKristu, futhi lokho kwamlethela injabulo enkulu. (IzEnzo 8:26-39) Ngokufanayo, owesifazane okuthiwa uLidiya, onhliziyo yakhe yavulwa “kakhulu . . . ukuba anake izinto ezazikhulunywa uPawulu,” ‘wabhapathizwa’ ngokushesha, yena nabendlu yakhe. (IzEnzo 16:14, 15) Ngokufanayo, umgcini wejele eFilipi walalela oPawulu noSila lapho ‘bekhuluma izwi likaJehova kuye,’ futhi “yena nabakwakhe babhapathizwa ngaphandle kokulibala.” (IzEnzo 16:25-34) Ngakho-ke, uma ninolwazi oluyisisekelo ngoJehova nangezinjongo zakhe, isifiso esiqotho sokwenza intando yakhe, idumela elihle ebandleni, niba khona njalo emihlanganweni yebandla futhi nihlanganyela ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso, kungani nizindela ukubhapathizwa?—Mathewu 28:19, 20.
15, 16. (a) Yikuphi ukucabanga okuyiphutha okungase kubambe intsha ethile ingabhapathizwa? (b) Ukuzinikezela nobhapathizo kuba kanjani isivikelo kwabasha?
15 Kungenzeka yini ukuthi unqikaza ukuthatha lesi sinyathelo esibalulekile ngoba wesaba ukuthi uyolandisa uma kwenzeka uhileleka ekuziphatheni okubi? Uma kunjalo, cabanga ngalokhu: Ingabe ubuyonqaba ukuthola izincwadi zokushayela ngoba nje wesaba ukuthi ngolunye usuku uyokwenza ingozi? Lutho neze! Akufanele-ke unqikaze nokubhapathizwa uma ukufanelekela. Empeleni, uma ukuphila kwakho usukunikezele kuJehova futhi uvumile ukwenza intando yakhe uba nesisusa esinamandla sokwenza konke okusemandleni akho ukuba umelane nokwenza okubi. (Filipi 4:13) Basha, sizani ningacabangi ukuthi ngokuhlehlisa ukubhapathizwa nibalekela umthwalo wemfanelo wokulandisa. Uma senibadala ngokwanele ukuthi ningathwala umthwalo wemfanelo, seniyaziphendulela kuJehova ngendlela enenza ngayo kungakhathaliseki ukuthi nibhapathiziwe noma cha.—Roma 14:11, 12.
16 OFakazi abaningi emhlabeni wonke bakholelwa ukuthi isinqumo sabo sokubhapathizwa besebasha sabasiza kakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngoFakazi oneminyaka engu-23 waseNtshonalanga Yurophu. Ukhumbula ukuthi ukubhapathizwa eneminyaka engu-13 ubudala kwamshukumisela ukuba aqaphele ukuba angakhukhulwa “izifiso zobusha.” (2 Thimothewu 2:22) Esemncane, wazibekela umgomo wokuba isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele. Namuhla, ujabulela ukukhonza ehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova. Izibusiso ezicebile zilindele yonke intsha ekhetha ukukhonza uJehova, okuhlanganisa nawe.
17. Kukuziphi izici lapho kudingeka khona ukuba siqhubeke siqonda ukuthi iyini “intando kaJehova”?
17 Ukuzinikezela nobhapathizo kuyisiqalo sokuphila ngokucabangela intando kaJehova kuzo zonke izici zokuphila kwethu. Ukuphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwethu kuhilela ‘ukuthengisisa ithuba.’ Sikwenza kanjani lokhu? Ngokusebenzisa isikhathi ebesingasisebenzisela iminako eyize bese sisisebenzisela ukutadisha iBhayibheli ngenkuthalo, ukuba khona njalo emihlanganweni yebandla nokuhlanganyela ngokugcwele ngangokunokwenzeka ekushumayeleni ‘izindaba ezinhle zombuso.’ (Efesu 5:15, 16; Mathewu 24:14) Ukuzinikezela kwethu kuJehova kanye nesifiso sokwenza intando yakhe kuyoba nomthelela omuhle kuzo zonke izici zokuphila kwethu kuhlanganise nendlela esiziphumuza ngayo, imikhuba yethu yokudla nokuphuza kanye nohlobo lomculo esiwulalelayo. Kungani ungakhethi uhlobo lokuphumuza ingqondo ozokwazi ukulujabulela kulo lonke iphakade? Izinkulungwane eziningi zentsha yoFakazi ejabulayo ziyokutshela ukuthi azive ziziningi izindlela zokuzijabulisa ezingangqubuzani ‘nentando kaJehova.’—Efesu 5:17-19.
“Sizohamba Nani”
18. Imuphi umbuzo intsha okufanele izibuze wona?
18 Kusukela ngo-1513 B.C.E. kuze kube ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., uJehova wayenesizwe esasihleliwe emhlabeni ayesikhethele ukuba simkhulekele futhi sibe ngofakazi bakhe. (Isaya 43:12) Ama-Israyeli asemasha ayezalelwa kuleso sizwe. Kusukela ngalelo Phentekoste, uJehova waba ‘nesizwe’ esisha emhlabeni, u-Israyeli ongokomoya, “isizwe segama lakhe.” (1 Petru 2:9, 10; IzEnzo 15:14; Galathiya 6:16) Umphostoli uPawulu uthi uKristu uzihlanzele “isizwe okungesakhe kuphela, esishisekela imisebenzi emihle.” (Thithu 2:14) Nina basha nikhululekile ukuzitholela ngokwenu ukuthi batholakalaphi labo bantu. Obani namuhla abakha “isizwe esilungile esigcina ukuziphatha okuthembekile,” esiphila ngokuvumelana nezimiso zeBhayibheli, esiziphatha njengoFakazi BakaJehova abathembekile, futhi esimemezela uMbuso wakhe njengowukuphela kwethemba lesintu? (Isaya 26:2-4) Bhekani amasonto eLobukholwa nezinye izinkolo niqhathanise ukuziphatha kwabo nalokho okufunwa iBhayibheli ezincekwini zikaNkulunkulu zeqiniso.
19. Izigidi zabantu emhlabeni wonke ziye zaqiniseka ngani?
19 Izigidi zabantu emhlabeni wonke, kuhlanganise nentsha eningi ziye zaqiniseka ngokuthi insali egcotshiwe yoFakazi BakaJehova yakha leso “sizwe esilungile.” Zithi kula ma-Israyeli angokomoya: “Sizohamba nani, ngoba sizwile ukuthi uNkulunkulu unani.” (Zakariya 8:23) Impela, sethemba futhi sithandazela ukuthi nina basha nizonquma ukuba ngasohlangothini lwabantu bakaNkulunkulu, ngaleyo ndlela ‘nikhethe ukuphila’—ukuphila okuphakade ezweni elisha likaJehova.—Duteronomi 30:15-20; 2 Petru 3:11-13.
Ake Sibukeze
• Yini ehilelekile ekuqondiseni umqondo?
• Inkonzo enjani eyamukelekayo kuJehova?
• Ikuphi ukukhetha okumelwe kwenziwe yizo zonke izingane ezikhuliswa abazali abazinikezele?
• Kungani kungafanele ukuba ubhapathizo luhlehliswe ngaphandle kwesizathu?
[Izithombe ekhasini 26]
Ubani ozomlalela?
[Isithombe ekhasini 28]
Ukuzinikezela nobhapathizo kungaba isivikelo kanjani kuwe?
[Isithombe ekhasini 29]
Yini ekuvimbela ukuba ubhapathizwe?