21—Ukwaliwa kwesilumkiso

Ekushumayeleni imfundiso yokubuya kwesibini, uWilliam Miller namahlakani akhe basebenza nzima benenjongo enye yokuvusa abantu ukuba balungiselele umgwebo. Bazama ukuvusela iiprofesa zenkolo kwithemba lebandla nakwisidingo sazo esinzulu kakhulu samava obuKristu; baza basebenza nzima ukuvusela abangaguqukanga kuxanduva lwenguquko ekhawulezileyo nokuguqukela kuThixo. “Abazange bazame ukuguqulela abantu kwinkonzo engacacanga okanye kumbutho wenkolo. Yiloo nto basebenza phakathi kwayo yonke imibutho neenkonzo ezingacacanga, bengaphazamisani nokuqulunqwa kwazo okanye ulawulo lwazo.”IE18 337.1

“Kuko konke ukusebenza kwam,” wathi uMiller, “andizanga ndanomnqweno okanye ingcamango yokumisela nonjani umsebenzi owahlukileyo kulowo wamabandla amiyo, okanye kulungelwe elinye lize licinezelwe elinye. Ndacinga ngokuba onke abe nenzuzo. Ndathi ngokucinga ukuba onke amaKristu aya kugcoba ngomba wokufika kukaKristu, nokuba abo bangakwaziyo ukubona njengoko ndandibona abayi kubathanda ngokubajongela phantsi nakancinane abo baya kuyamkela le mfundiso, andizange ndazi ukuba kungakho isidingo sokubamba iintlanganiso ezahlukeneyo. Injongo yam epheleleyo yayingumnqweno wokuguqula imiphefumlo iye kuThixo, ukwazisa umhlaba ngomgwebo ozayo, nokoyisela abantu ekulungiseni intliziyo okuya kwenza bakwazi ukuhlangana noThixo beseluxolweni. Uninzi lwabo babeguqukile phantsi kokusebenza kwam bazimanya namabandla awahlukeneyo akhoyo.”--Bliss, iphepha 328.IE18 337.2

Njengoko umsebenzi wakhe wakholisa ukwakha amabandla, waya wathandwa okwexesha elithile. Kwathi kodwa abafundisi neenkokeli zenkolo zagqiba ukuba ziyichase imfundiso yokufika [kukaYesu] zaza zalangazelela ukukucinezela konke ukuphembelelwa kwalo mcimbi, azanela kukuyichasa kuphela ukuba ingashunyayelwa emaqongeni amabandla, kodwa zawalela amalungu azo ilungelo lokuya kwiintshumayelo ezingokubuya kwesibini, okanye nokuba athethe ngethemba analo kwiintlanganiso zokuhlala zebandla. Ngaloo ndlela, amakholwa azifumana ekwimeko yokulingwa nokubhideka okukhulu. Ayezithanda iinkonzo zawo ekuthiyile ukuzahlula kuzo; kodwa athi akububona ubungqina belizwi likaThixo bucinezelwa, nelungelo lawo lokuphengulula iziprofeto lisalelwa, aziva ukuba, ukunyaniseka kuThixo kuyala ukuba akuvume [oko kwakusenzeka]. Abo babezama ukubuvalela ngaphandle ubungqina belizwi likaThixo, babengakwazi ukuba babamkele njengabayinxalenye yebandla likaKristu, “umhlaba nentsika yenyaniso.” Kungoko bona baziva befanelekile ukuba bazahlule koko babehlangene nako ngaphambili. Ngexesha lasehlotyeni lowe-1844 baba kwisithuba samawaka angamashumi amahlanu abawashiyayo amabandla.IE18 337.3

Kwesi sithuba seli xesha, kwakukho inguqulelo enkulu eyayibonakala kumabandla amaninzi kuyo yonke iMelika [USA]. Kwaba yiminyaka emininzi yokukhula kodwa kuthe chu nokuvumelana kwemisebenzi yehlabathi nezithethe zalo, okwakuhambelana nokuhla kubomi basemoyeni ngenene: kodwa kuloo mnyaka kwakubonakala ukuhla okukhawulezileyo nokucacileyo phantse kuwo onke amabandla elizweni. Nangona wayengekho onokusixela isizathu, into leyo yona yayiqapheleka ngokubanzi, kwaye kuthethwa ngayo ngamaphepha nasepulpitini.IE18 338.1

Entlanganisweni yezikhulu zenkonzo eFiladelfi, uMnumzana Barnes, umbhali wengcaciso eyayisetyenziswa ekwangumfundisi wenye yeenkonzo ezazihamba phambili kweso sixeko, “waxela ukuba wayesemsebenzini wobufundisi amashumi amabini eminyaka, waye akazanga, kwada kwangumthendeleko odlulileyo, ayiqhube inkonzo yesidlo engakhanga wazuza ibathwana [labantu] enkonzweni. Ngoku akukho mvuselelo, akukho baguqukayo, lwaye lungabonakali nakangako ubabalo kwabo bathi ngabenkonzo, baye bengekho abeza kwigumbi lakhe lokufunda ukuba bancokole ngosindiso lwemiphefumlo yabo. Ngokukhula koshishino, nokuqaqamba kwamathemba orhwebo neefektri, kukho ukukhula kwengqondo yokuthanda ihlabathi. Kunjalo kuwo onke amahlelo eenkonzo.”--Congregational Journal, May 23, 1844.IE18 338.2

Ngenyanga kaFebruwari waloo mnyaka, uProfesa Finney weOberlin College wathi: “Lo mbandela sibe sinawo kwangaphambili ezingqondweni zethu, wokuba, amabandla amaProtestanti jikelele kwizwe lethu, awalukhathalele okanye aluchase phantse lonke uhlaziyo lokuziphatha kwale mihla. Ikhona imingqandandana eseleyo, kodwa ingekho kangako ukuba kungade kuthiwe ayithanga tshitshilili le nto. Sikwanayo enye inyaniso efumanekayo apha: ukungabikho kuyo yonke indawo kwemvuselelo emabandleni. Ukudodobala kwasemoyeni kuphantsa ukubonakala kuyo yonke indawo, kwaye kunzulu ngendlela eyoyikekayo; “kungqina njalo konke okuvela kuwo onke amaphephandaba enkolo alo mmandla. . . . Ngokubanzi kakhulu, amalungu ebandla aya ezinikela kwizinto zale mihla,--abambana ngezandla nabantu abangamhloneliyo uThixo kumatheko olonwabo, emidanisweni, kwiziyunguma, njl. njl. . . . Asidingi ngoko ukuba siyandise le meko ibuhlungu. Kwanele ukuba ubungqina buya buqina baye busiza ngamandla phezu kwethu, bubonisa ukuba amabandla jikelele ehla ngendlela elusizi emgangathweni. Amke kakhulu eNkosini, naYo izirhoxisile kuwo.”IE18 338.3

Obhala kwiReligious Telescope wangqina wathi: “Asizanga sakubona ukuhla okungaka jikelele kwenkolo njengangoku. Inene, ibandla kufuneka livuke, liphande unobangela wale mbandezelo; kuba wonke oyithandayo iZiyon kufuneka ayibone njengembandezelo. Xa sithi sikhumbule ukuba ‘zimbalwa ziqelelene kangakanani’ iimeko zenguquko yenene, kwakunye nokungabi nokuzohlwaya okungenamlinganiselo, kunye nokuqaqadeka kwaboni, singasuka sizive sesidanduluka sisithi, ‘Angaba ukulibele na uThixo ukuba nemfesane? Okanye, Ingaba ucango lwenceba luvaliwe na?’” IE18 339.1

Imeko enje ayizanga yabakho ebandleni ngaphandle kwesizathu. Ubumnyama basemoyeni obufikela izizwe, amabandla, nabantu, abubangelwa kukukhetha ngokuzithandela kokunceda ngenceba yezulukwicala likaThixo, kodwangokutyeshela okanye ukwaliwa kokukhanya okungcwele ngakwicala labantu. Umzekelo ocace kakhulu wale nyaniso yimbali enikiweyo yabantu bakwaYuda ngexesha likaKristu. Ngokuzinikela kwabo ehlabathini nokumlibala uThixo nelizwi laKhe, ingqiqo yabo yenziwa mnyama, iintliziyo zabo zathanda ihlabathi neziyolo. Kungoko bengazange bazi ngokufika kukaMesiya, baza bathi kwikratshi labo nokungakholwa kwabo bamala uMhlanguli. UThixo akazange asuse kwangoko kwisizwe sakwaYuda ulwazi nokuxhamla kwiintsikelelo zosindiso. Phofu ke, bona abo bayalayo inyaniso balahlekwa ngumnqweno wesipho seZulu. Baya “babeka ubumnyama endaweni yokukhanya, nokukhanya endaweni yobumnyama,” kwada ukukhanya okwakukubo kwabubumnyama. Hay’ indlela obaba bukhulu ngayo obo bumnyama!IE18 339.2

Kuhambelana nomgaqo kaSathana ukuba abantu bagcine ukuqhutywa kwenkolo nangona umoya obalulekile kakhulu wokoyika uThixo ungekho. Emva kokwala kwawo igospile, amaYuda aqhubeka ngenzondelelo ukugcina iinkonzo zawo zakudala, akugcina ngamandla ukuba sisizwe esimi sodwa, lo gama wona ngokwawo ayevuma ukuba ubukho bukaThixo babungasabonakali phakathi kwawo. Isiprofeto sikaDaniyeli salatha singaphazami kwixesha lokufika kukaMesiya, sakuxela ngokutsolileyo ukufa kwaKhe, kangangokuba bakuthibaza ukufundwa kwaso, kwathi ekugqibeleni oorabhi bawisa isiqalekiso kubo bonke abazama ukubala ixesha [laso]. Ebumfameni nokungakufuni ukuzohlwaya, abantu bakwaIsrayeli, ngeenkulungwane ezilandelayo, bema bengazihoyanga iimfesane ezinikiweyo zosindiso, bengaziqondi iintsikelelo zegospile, isilumkiso esinendili nesoyikekayo sengozi yokwala ukukhanya okuvela ezulwini. IE18 339.3

Naphina apho umsebenzi wenziwayo khona, kulandela iziphumo ezinye. Lowo uthi ngcembe ukucinezela oko afanele ukukwenza kuba kuphazamisa icala akekelele ngakulo, ekugqibeleni uza kulahlekelwa ngamandla okwahlula phakathi kwenyaniso nemposiso. Ingqiqo iyafiphala, isazela sibe lukhuni, intliziyo iqine, uze umphefumlo wahlukane noThixo. Apho isigidimi senyanisoyezulu sithe sacekiswa okanye satshikilelwa,apho ibandla ligutyungelwa bubumnyama; ukholo nothando luye lubande; ukungavaninokulwa kungene. Umdla namandla amalungu ebandla ayezinze ekusukeleni izinto zehlabathi, baye aboni beqaqadeka ekungazohlwayini kwabo.IE18 340.1

Isigidimi sengelosi yokuqala yesiTyhilelo 14, esazisa ngelixa lomgwebo kaThixo nesibiza abantu ukuba boyike bamnqule, uThixo, salungiselelwa ukuba sahlule abantu bakaThixo kwiimpembelelo zehlabathi ezonakalisayo, nokubavusa ukuba bayibone eyona meko yabo yokuthanda ihlabathi nokuhlehla [enkolweni]. Kwesi sigidimi, uThixo wayethumela isilumkiso ebandleni, esasiya kuthi, xa samkelwe, sibulungise ububi obabubavalela kude kuYe. Ukuba babesamkele isigidimi esivela ezulwini, bazithoba iintliziyo zabo phambi kukaYehova, bafuna bezingisile ukulungiselela ukuma phambi kwaKhe, uMoya namandla kaThixo ngewabonakalaliswa phakathi kwabo. Ibandla ngelaphinda lafikelela kuloo ntsikelelo yemo yobunye, nokholo, nothando olwalukho ngemihla yabapostile, xa amakholwa “[aye] ntliziyo-nye, imphefumlo mnye,” “[e]lithetha ilizwi likaThixo ngokungafihlisiyo,” xa “iNkosi isongeza abasindiswayo imihla ngemihla kulo ibandla.” IZenzo 4:32, 31; 2:47.IE18 340.2

Ukuba abantu abazibiza ngoThixo bebengamkela ukukhanya njengoko kukhanya kubo kusuka elizwini laKhe, bebengafikelela kobo bunye wakuthandazelayo uKristu, obo abuchazayo umpostile, “ubunye boMoya ngentambo yoxolo.” Uthi, “Mnye umzimba, mnye uMoya, njengokuba nabizwayo nokubizwa, naba nathemba linye lobizo lwenu. Inye iNkosi, lunye ukholo, lunye ubhaptizo.” Efese 4:3-5.IE18 340.3

Zaba njalo iintsikelelo abazifumanayo abo basamkelelayo isigidimi sokufika [kukaYesu]. Babephuma kumahlelo awahlukeneyo, yalahlelwa phantsi imiqobo yamahlelo; iinkolo ezingqubanayo zacolwa zayinkunkuma; ithemba elingekho siBhalweni lewaka leminyaka eza kuchithwa emhlabeni layekwa; iimbono zobuxoki zokubuya kwesibini zalungiswa, ikratshi nokuhambelana nehlabathi kwasuswa; iziphoso zalungiswa; iintliziyo zamanyana kubudlelaneobumnandi; uthandonovuyo lwankqenkqeza phambili. Ukuba le mfundiso yenza oku kwiqaqobana elayamkelayo, yayiza kwenza kwaoko kubo bonke abayamkelayo. IE18 341.1

Noko ke, amabandla jikelele awazange asamkele isilumkiso. Abafundisi bawo, ababefanele ukuthi, njengabalindi “kwindlu kaIsrayeli” babe ngabokuqala ukuyiqonda imiqondiso yokuza kukaYesu, basilela ukuyifunda inyaniso mhlawumbi kubungqina babaprofeti okanye kwimiqondiso yamaxesha. Njengoko amathemba omhlaba namabhongo ayezalise intliziyo, ukuthanda uThixo nokukholwa elizwini laKhe kwaya kwabanda; kwathi kwakushunyayelwa imfundiso yokufika kwanela ukuvusa intiyo nokungakholwa. Into yokuba isigidimi, ubukhulu becala, sashunyayelwa ngabazalwana, yabekwa njengengxoxo esisizathu ekusichaseni. Njengakudala, ubungqina obucacileyo belizwi likaThixo bahlangana nombuzo othi: “Ingaba bakho na abaphathi okanye abaFarisi abakholiweyo?” Kwathi kwakubonakala ukuba luxanduva olunzima kangakanani ukuphikisa iingxoxo ezikhutshwa kumaxesha esiprofeto, abaninzi bakutyhafisa ukufundwa kweziprofeto, befundisa ukuba iincwadi zesiprofeto zatywinwa ngoko azingeke ziqondwe. Izihlwele, ezazithembele ngokupheleleyo kubafundisi bazo, zakwala ukusiphulaphula isilumkiso; bathi abanye, nangona boyisakele yinyaniso, ababanako ukuyivuma, hleze “bagxothwe endlwini yesikhungu.” Isigidimi uThixo awasithumela ukuvavanya nokuhlanjululwa kwebandla saveza ngokuqiniseke kakhulu indlela elalilikhulu ngayo iqela elalithe tyu uthando lwalo phezu kweli hlabathi endaweni yaphezu kukaKristu. Amaqhina awayebaqamengele emhlabeni ayomelele kunezinto ezinomtsalane ezisingisa ezulwini. Banyula ukuphulaphula ilizwi lobulumko basemhlabeni, basitshikilela isigidimi senyaniso esiyigocagocayo intliziyo.IE18 341.2

Ngokungasamkeli isilumkiso sengelosi yokuqala, bala indlela elungiswe lizulu yokubuyiselwa kwabo. Bamcekisa umthunywa onemfesane owayeza kulungisa ububi obabahlula noThixo, bathi, ngenzondelelo enkulu, bajika baya kufuna ubuhlobo behlabathi. Yayisiso esi isizathu saloo meko yoyikekayo yokuthanda ihlabathi, ukuhlehla, nokufa kwasemoyeni okwakukho emabandleni ngowe-1844.IE18 341.3

KwisiTyhilelo 14, ingelosi yokuqala ilandelwa yeyesibini edanduluka isithi: “Iwile, iwile iBhabeli, loo mzi mkhulu! ngokuba iseze zonke iintlanga ngewayini yomsindo wobuhenyu bayo.” IsiTyhilelo 14:8. Isaci “iBhabheli” sisuka ku“Bhabheli,” saye sibonisa isiphithiphithi. Sisetyenziswa esiBhalweni ukubonisa iindlela iimo ezahlukeneyo zobuxoki okanye inkolo yokreqo. KwisiTyhilelo 17, iBhabheli ibekwe njengomfazi—umfanekiso osetyenziswa eBhayibhileni njengomfuziselo webandla, umfazi onesidima emele ibandla elinyulu, umfazi ongcolileyo emele ibandla elikreqileyo.IE18 342.1

EBhayihleni isimilo esingcwele nesizinzileyo solwalamano olukhoyo phakathi kukaKristu nebandla laKhe limelwe ngomanyano lomtshato. INkosi imanye abantu baYo ngomnqophiso ozukileyo, Yona ithembisa ukuba nguThixo wabo, baze bona banqophise ukuba baya kuba ngabantu baYo kuphela. Uthi: “Ndokugana ube ngowam ngonaphakade, ndikugane ube ngowam ngobulungisa nangokusesikweni, nangenceba nangemfesane.” Hoseya 2:19. Aphinde athi: “Ndinizekile mna.” Yeremiya 3:14 UPawulos usebenzisa kwalo mfanekiso mnye kwiTestamente eNtsha xa athi: “Ndanendisa ndodeni-nye, ukuze ndinimise phambi koKristu niyintombi enyulu.” 2 Korinte 11:2.IE18 342.2

Ukungathembeki kwebandla kuKristu ngokuvumela ukuba ithemba nothando lwalo lususwe kuYe, nokuvumela ukuthanda izinto zehlabathi kuzalise umphefumlo, kufaniswa nokwaphula izifungo zomtshato. Isono sikaIsrayeli ngokumka kuYehova sinikwe ngalo mfanekiso; lwaza uthando olumangalisayo lukaThixo abaludelelayo lwazotywa ngokuchukumisayo, ngolu hlobo: “Ndakufungela, ndanqophisana nawe, itsho iNkosi uYehova; waba ngowam.” “Waba mhle kakhulu kunene, waya uphumelela ebukumkanini. Lwaphuma udumo lobuhle bakho lwagqitha ilizwe lonke; ngokuba bapheleliseka bona ngobungangamela bam, endabubeka phezu kwakho; . . . Wesukawenawakholosangobuhlebakho,wahenyuzangenxa yodumo lwakho.” “Njengoko umfazi atshinizayo kuwabo, nitshinizile ngokunjalo kum, nina ndlu kaIsrayeli, utsho uYehova;” “Mfazindini okrexezayo! Wena ufuna abahambi endaweni yomyeni wakho! [IBHAYIBHILE]” Hezekile 16:8, 13-15, 32; Yeremiya 3:20.IE18 342.3

KwiTestamente eNtsha, ulwimi olufana kakhulu lubhekiswe kwabazibiza ngokuba bangamaKristu phofu befuna ubuhlobo nehlabathi ngaphezu kokuthandwa nguThixo. Uthi umpostile uYakobi: “Bakrexezindini, bakrexezikazindini, anazi na ukuba ubuhlobo balo ihlabathi bubutshaba kuye uThixo? Othe ngoko wanga angaba sisihlobo salo ihlabathi, uzenza utshaba lukaThixo.”IE18 342.4

Umfazi (iBhabheli) wesiTyhilelo 17 uchazwe njengothiwe “wambu ngengubo ebomvu nemfusa, ihonjiswe ngegolide, nelitye elinqabileyo, neeperile, inendebe yegolide esandleni sayo, izele ngamasikizi nezingcoliso zobuhenyu. . . . ebunzi kubhalwe igama elithi, Imfihlelo, iBhabheli enkulu, unina wamahenyukazi.” Uthi umprofeti: “Ndayibona inkazana leyo inxila ligazi labangcwele, naligazi lamangqina kaYesu.” IBhabheli ibuya ichazwe ngokuba “nguloo mzi mkhulu, ulawula ookumkani bomhlaba.” IsiTyhilelo 17:4-6, 18. Igunya elilawule ngogonyamelo iinkulungwane zeminyaka phezu kwezikumkani zobuKristu yiRoma. Umbala omfusa nobomvu, igolide, amatye anqabileyo neeperile, zibubonisa, ngokucacileyo, ubuhle, nangaphezulu kobuyokoyoko obonakaliswe nguPopi oziphakamisileyo waseRoma. Alikho elinye igunya ekunokuthethwa ngalo kunyanisiwe xa kuthiwa, “linxile ligazi labangcwele,” njengelo bandla elabatshutshisa ngenkohlakalo abalandeli bakaKristu. IBhabheli ikwamangalelwa ngesono soqhagamshelano olungekho mthethweni “nookumkani bomhlaba.” Kwaba ngokusuka eNkosini, nokuqhogana nabahedeni, okwenza ukuba ibandla lakwaYuda libe lihenyukazi; neRoma, ngokuzonakalisa ngendlela efanayo ngokufuna inkxaso yamagunya omhlaba, ifumana ukugwetywa okufanayo [nokwakwaYuda]. IE18 343.1

Kuthiwa iBhabheli ingu“ninawamahenyukazi.” Ngokuthi iintombi zayo, kunokuba kufuziselwa amabandla abambelele kwiimfundiso nezithethe zayo, alandele umzekelo wokuyincama inyaniso nokwamkelwa nguThixo, ukuze kwenziwe umanyano olungekho mthethweni nehlabathi. Isigidimi sesiTyhilelo 14, esivakalisa ukuwa kweBhabheli, simele ukubhekisa kwiimbumba [kumaqela] awaye enyulu ngaphambili aza abuya onakala, simele ukunikwa ngemihla yokugqibela; ngoko ke, asikwazi ukubhekisa kwiBandla laseRoma kuphela, kuba elo bandla belisoloko likwimo yokuwa iinkulungwane ezininzi. Ngaphezu koko, kwisahluko seshumi elinesibhozo sesiTyhilelo, abantu bakaThixo bayabizwa ukuba baphume eBhabheli. Ngokwesi siBhalo, abantu abaninzi bakaThixo baseseBhabheli. Yeyiphi eyona mizi mikhulu yenkolo enenxenye enkulu yabalandeli bakaKristu efumanekayo ngoku? Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, kumabandla awahlukeneyo azibiza ngenkolo yobuProtestanti. Ngexesha lokuqala kwawo, la mabandla amela uThixo nenyaniso ngesidima, yaza intsikelelo yaKhe yaphezu kwawo. Nehlabathi elingakholwayo lanyanzeleka ukuba lizivume iziphumo ezihle ezalandela ukwamkelwa kwemithetho-siseko yegospile. Ngokwamazwi omprofeti aya kuIsrayeli: “Lwaphuma udumo lobuhle bakho lwagqiba ilizwe lonke; ngokuba bapheleliseka bona ngobungangamela bam, endabubeka phezu kwakho; itsho iNkosi uYehova.” Ngelishwa baya bawa ngaloo mnqweno mnye owawusisiqalekiso nentshabalalo kuIsrayeli—ukunqwenela ukulinganisa izenzo nokwamkela ubuhlobo nabantu abangahloneli Thixo. “Wesuka wena wakholosa ngobuhle bakho, wahenyuza ngenxa yodumo lwakho.” Hezekile 16:14, 15. IE18 343.2

Amaninzi kumabandla obuProtestanti alandela umzekelo weRoma wokuqhogana okunenkohlakalo “nookumkani bomhlaba”—amabandla ezizwe, nangokwalamana noorhulumente basemhlabeni; namanye amahlelo enkolo, nangokufuna ukuthandwa lihlabathi. Sithi ke isaci “iBhabheli” — isiphithiphithi—sinokusetyenziswa ngokufanelekileyo kule mizi [kula mabandla], yonke esithi azithabatha iimfundiso zawo eBhayibhileni, abe ahlukene azinkonzo ezingacacanga ezinani lazo lingenakubalwa, eneenkolo neenkqubo zonqulo neemfundiso eziphikisanayo. IE18 344.1

Ngaphandle komanyano nehlabathi oluzele sisono, amabandla awazahlulayo eRoma azigcinile ezinye zeempawu zayo.IE18 344.2

Umsebenzi obhaliweyo weBandla laseRoma uxoxa ngelithi: “Ukuba iBandla laseRoma laka lanetyala lokunqula izithixo ngokubhekiselele kwabangcwele, intombi yalo, iBandla laseNgilane [iTshetshi], nayo linetyala elinye, kuba linamabandla alishumi anikezelwe kuMariya apho lilinye elinikezelwe kuKristu.”--Richard Challoner, The Catholic Christian Instructed, Preface, pages 21, 22.IE18 344.3

Yena uDr. Hopkins, kwi“A Treatise on the Millennium,” uthi: “Asikho isizathu sokuba ubuchasi-Kristu bubalelwe koko kubizwa ngoku ngokuthi liBandla laseRoma. Amabandla amaProtesanti anobuchasi-Kristu obuninzi ngaphakathi kwawo, kwaye akude ekubeni angahlaziywa ngokupheleleyo kumonakalo nenkohlakalo.”--Samuel Hopkins, Works, vol. 2, p. 328. IE18 344.4

Ngokubhekiselele ekwahlukaneni kweBandla lePresbhitari eRoma, uDr. Guthrie ubhala athi: “Kwiminyaka engamakhulu amathathu eyadlulayo, ibandla lethu, lineBhayibhile evuliweyo kwibhanile yalo, nesi saci, ‘Ziphengululeni iziBhalo,” kwincwadi esongiweyo, laphuma lingqawuza kumasango aseRoma.” Ubuya abuze umbuzo obalulekileyo, athi: “Ingaba baphuma bemsulwa na eBhabheli?”--Thomas Guthrie, The Gospel in Ezekiel, page 237.IE18 344.5

“IBandla laseNgilane [iTshetshi],” uthi uSpurgeon, “ingathi lidliwe kwaphela yinyambalala yeenkonzo zemithendeleko; phofu, kona ukungavumelani kungathi kudlakaziwe kukunganyaniseki ngokweembono. Abo besicinga okungcono ngabo baphuma ecaleni kuzo ngazinye ngazinye iziseko zenkolo. Ngokupheleleyo, ndiyakholwa, kwaumongo lo weNgilane uzele sisihombiso esifana nekhaphela esikukunganyaniseki okubi kakhulu, okusenesibindi sokukhwela epulpitini kuzibisa ngokuthi kububuKristu.”IE18 345.1

Yayisithini imvelaphi yokreqo olukhulu? Laqala ngokuthini ibandla ukumka kubulula beendaba ezilungileyo? Ngokuvumelana nezenzo zobuhedeni, ukulungiselela ukwamkelwa kobuKristu ngabahedeni. Umpostile uPawulos wathi, kwangemihla yakhe, “Imfihlelo yokuchasana nomthetho iselisebenza.” 2 Tesalonika 2:7. Ngexesha lokuphila kwabapostile, ibandla lahlala linako ukubonakala linyulu. Kwathi kodwa, “xa kusiya ekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesibini, amabandla amaninzi athabatha imo entsha; ubulula bokuqala banyamalala, kwathi, kungaqondakalanga, xa abafundi abadala bephumla emangcwabeni abo, abantwana babo, kunye nabaguqukayo abatsha, . . . bavela bewumisa ngendlela entsha umsebenzi.”--Robert Robinson, Ecclesiastical Researches, ch. 6, par. 17, p. 51. Ukuzinzisa abaguqukayo, imigangatho ephakanyisiweyo yenkolo yobuKristu yathotywa, saza isiphumo soko, “umsinga wobuhedeni ubaleka ungena ebandleni, uthwele amasiko awo, izenzo, nezithixo.”--Gavazzi, Lectures, page 278. Ngexesha inkolo yobuKristu yaqinisekisa ukuthandwa nenkxaso yabalawuli behlabathi, yamkelwa ngegama zizihlwele; kodwa lo gama ngokwembonakalo ingamaKristu, abaninzi “bahlala ngokwemo yabo bengabahedeni, ngakumbi benqula izithixo zabo [abahedeni] emfihlakalweni.”-- Gavazzi, page 278. IE18 345.2

Akuphindanga kwenzeka oko phantse kuwo onke amabandla azibiza ngokuba angamaProtestanti? Bathi xa abaseki, abo babenomoya wohlaziyo onyanisekileyo, besifa, izizukulwana zabo zavela “zawenza ngendlela entsha umsebenzi.” Lo gama bebambelele ngobumfama kwiinkonzo zoyise, besala ukwamkela nayiphi inyaniso engaphambili koko bakubonayo, abantwana babahlaziyi bemka kakhulu kumzekelo wabo wokuthobeka, ukuzilandula, nokulishiya ihlabathi. Ngoko ke, “ubulula bokuqala bathi shwaka.” Umsinga wokuthandwa kwehlabathi, wabaleka ungena ebandleni, uthwele “amasiko awo, izenzo, nezithixo.”IE18 345.3

Yeha ke, ubukhulu oboyikekayo bobuhlobo behlabathi “obubutshaba noThixo,” ngoku obuthandwa ngabazibiza ngokuba bangabalandeli bakaKristu! Indlela amabandla awaziwa kakhulu kubo bonke ubuKristu athe emka ngayo kumgangatho wokuthobeka omiselweyo weBhayibhile, ukuzilandula, ukubalula, nokuhlonela uThixo! Wathi uJohn Wesley, ethetha ngendlela efanelekileyo yokusetyenziswa kwemali: “Maze ningachithi nokuba yintwana engakanani yetalente exabiseke kangaka, ngokufuna nje ukwanelisa umnqweno weliso, ngezinxibo ezingadingekiyo okanye ezinexabiso eliphezulu, nangamajikazi angenamsebenzi. Musani ukuchitha nantoni yayo [italente] ngokuhombisa izindlu zenu ngendlela engaqhelekanga; ngemfumba engaphaya komgca okanye impahla yendlu enexabiso elikhulu, imifanekiso edla imali enkulu, imizobo, ukukhazimlisa [izindlu]. . . . Ningaziqwebeli nto yokwanelisa ikratshi lobomi, kuba nifuna ukuzuza ukuxatyiswa okanye ukudunyiswa ngabantu. . . . ‘Lo gama usazenzelawenaokulungileyo, abantubayakuthethaokulungileyo ngawe.’ Lo gama ‘usavathe ilinen ecikiziweyo emfusa,’ izinto zikuhambela ‘kakuhle yonke imihla,’ ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo, baninzi abaya kubuncoma ubuhle bokukwazi kwakho ukukhetha, ububele bokubuka iindwendwe kwakho. Noko kunjalo, musa ukukuthenga ukunconywa kakhulu ngabo. Endaweni yoko, yaneliseka kukuphakanyiswa nguThixo.”--Wesley, Works, Sermon 50, “The Use of Money.” Kanti ke, kumabandla amaninzi eli xesha lethu, imfundiso enjalo ayikhathalelwe.IE18 345.4

Ukuvunywa nje kwenkolo kuqhelekile ehlabathini. Abalawuli, abombuso, abomthetho, oogqirha, abathengisi, bonke bangena enkonzweni ngenjongo yokuzuza ukuhlonitshwa nokuthenjwa ekuhlaleni, nokuhambisela phambili okwabo ukuthanda ihlabathi. Ngaloo ndlela bafuna ukugquma zonke izenzo zabo zokungalungisi phantsi kokubizwa ngobuKristu. Iinkolo ezahlukeneyo, eziqiniswe bubutyebi nempembelelo yaba bathandi behlabathi babhaptiziweyo, isafuna ukuthandwa nokuxhaswa okungaphezulu. Amabhotwe ezakhiwo zeenkonzo, ezihonjiswe ngokuthsafazwa kweemfumba zemali, zakhiwe kwimigaqo ethandwayo. Abanqula khona banxiba iimpahla zexabiso nezexesha elo. Kuhlawulwa umvuzo ophezulu koyena mfundisi unetalente yokonwabisa nokutsala abantu. Iintshumayelo zakhe akufuneki zichukumise izono ezithandwayo, kodwa kufuneka zigude zonwabise iintliziyo zeli xesha. Njalo ke, aboni beli xesha babhalwa kwiincwadi zebandla, zize izono zeli xesha zifihlwe phantsi kokumila kokuhlonela uThixo. IE18 346.1

Lithetha ngemo ekhoyo yabantu abazibiza ngokuba bangamaKristu ngasehlabathini, iphepha eliphambili lasehlabathini lithi: “Lithe lingaqondanga ibandla laziyekela kumoya wangoku, lamisela iindlela zonqulo ngokufunwa lixesha langoku.” “Zonke izinto, ngokwenene, ezenza ukuba inkolo ibe nomtsalane, ibandla ngoku liyazisebenzisa njengezixhobo zalo.” Umbhali wephepha iNew York Independent, ethetha ngokubhekiselele kubuMethodi [ubuWisile] ngendlela obuyiyo, uthi: “Umda owahlulayo phakathi kokuhlonela uThixo nabantu abangakholwayo uya ucima, uba sisithunzi, baye abantu abanenzondelelo kumacala omabini besebenza nzima bezama ukucima wonke umahlukho phakathi kweentlobo zokwenziwayo nolonwabo.” “Ukuthandwa kwenkolo kukholise ukwandisa kakhulu amanani abo banga banganenzuzo kokuhle kwayo bengakhange bakufikelele ngokuphandle oko kungumthwalo wayo.” IE18 346.2

UHoward Crosby uthi: “Ngumcimbi okhathaza kakhulu owokufumana ibandla likaKristu likuzalisekisa kancinane okucetywe yiNkosi yalo. Kanye njengokuba amaYuda akudala avumela ulwalamano oluqhelekileyo nezizwe ezinqula izithixo ukuba luzibe iintliziyo zawo kuThixo, . . . ngokunjalo ibandla likaYesu ngoku, ngolwalamano lwalo lobuxoki nehlabathi elingakholwayo, liyeka iindlela zobomi benene, liziyekela ekuthandeni imali, nangona kukholisa ngokunconywa, imikhwa yentlalo engenaKristu, kube kusetyenziswa intetho, kufikelelwa kwizigqibo ezinxamnye nesityhilelo sikaThixo, nezichasene ngqo nako konke ukukhula elubabalweni.”-- The Healthy Christian: An Appeal to the Church, pages 141, 142.IE18 347.1

Kulo msinga wokuthandwa kwehlabathi nokufunwa kweziyolo, ukuzilandula nokuzincama ngenxa kaKristu, zizinto ezikufuphi ekulahlekeni. “Abanye bamadoda nabafazi abasesemandleni okusebenza abasemabandleni ethu, babefunde, besengabantwana, ukwenza umbingelelo ukuze bakwazi ukunikela okanye ukwenzela into uKristu.” Kuthi kodwa ngoku, xa kufunwa imali, . . . kungabikho mntu kubhenelwa kuye ukuba anikele. Hay’ bo! Kufuneka kuthengiswe, imidlalo yabantu bengathethi bengashukumi, imidlalo yokuxoxa enkundleni, izidlo zakudala, okanye kubekho into etyiwayo—nantoni na eyonwabisa abantu.”IE18 347.2

IRhuluneli uWashburn waseWisconsin, kwisigidimi sakhe somnyaka, ngoJanuwari 9, 1873, wathi: “Omnye umthetho ingathi ufunelwa ukuvusa izikolo apho kwenziwa khona abangcakazi. Zifumaneka kuyo yonke indawo. Nebandla (lingaqondi, ngokuqinisekileyo) maxa wambi lifumaneka lisenza umsebenzi kamtyholi. Iikonsathi zezipho, amatheko ezipho, namaqashiso amathamsanqa [raffles] ngamanye amaxesha kuncedwa iinjongo zokuxhaswa kwabahluphekileyo, kanti kakhulukazi iinjongo ezingenaxabiso kangako, iilotho, izipho ezizuzwa ngamaqashiso okanye nokukhuphisana, njl., konke oko ingamacebo okuzuza imali kodwa kungekho okuhle okuzuzekayo. Akukho nto yonakalisa isimilo okanye enxilisayo, ngakumbi kwabatsha, njengokuzuza imali okanye into enje ngendlu kungakhange kusetyenzwe. Abahloniphekileyo bangena kula matheko, bezithomalalisa izazela zabo ngokuthi, imali iza kwenza umsebenzi olungileyo, nto leyo eyenza ukuba kungamangalisi xa ulutsha lwesizwe luthi rhoqo ukuwa kwimikhwa eza nokuthabatheka kwimidlalo eyingozi eqinisekileyo ukuyikhuthaza.IE18 347.3

Umoya ohambelana nokuthanda ihlabathi uhlasela amabandla ethu kulo lonke ulawulo lobuKristu. URobert Atkins, kwintshumayelo yakhe yaseLondon, wazoba umfanekiso omnyama wokuhla ngokwasemoyeni okugqubayo eNgilane: “Abanqula ngokunyanisekileyo bacuthekile emhlabeni, kwaye akukho bani ukunakileyo oko. Abathi baya kholwa kule mihla, kuwo onke amabandla, bangabathandi behlabathi, abavumelana nehlabathi, abathanda ulonwabo lwezidalwa, nabaxunele ekuxatyisweni. Kuthiwa beva ubunzima noKristu, kodwa bayayoyika ingcikivo. . . . Lukreqo, lukreqo, lukreqo, oko kukrolwe phambi kwazo zonke iinkonzo; kodwa, yeha! Batsho, ‘Sizizityebi, sinento yonke, asidingi nto.’”-- Second Advent Library, tract No. 39.IE18 348.1

Isono esikhulu emangalelwa ngaso iBhabheli sesokuba “iseze zonke iintlanga ngewayini yomsindo wobuhenyu bayo.” Le ndebe yento enxilisayo eyinika ihlabathi imele iimfundiso zobuxoki ezamkeleyo zisisiphumo soqhagamshelano olungekho mthethweni nezikhulu zomhlaba. Ubuhlobo nehlabathi bulonakalisile ukholo lwayo, nayo kwelinye icala ibe nempembelelo eyonakalisayo ehlabathini ngokufundisa iimfundiso ezichasene neentetho ezicacileyo zeziBhalo Ezingcwele. IE18 348.2

IRoma yayibamba iBhayibhile ukuba ingafiki ezandleni zabantu yaza yafuna ukuba bonke abantu bamkele iimfundiso zayo endaweni yayo. Yayingumsebenzi woHlaziyo ukubuyisela abantu elizwini likaThixo; kodwa asiyiyo inyaniso epheleleyo na ukuthi, ebandleni ngeli xesha lethu abantu bafundiswa ukuba inkolo yabo bayixhome kwiinkqubo neemfundiso zenkonzo yabo endaweni yeziBhalo? Wathi uCharles Beecher, ethetha ngamabandla amaProtestanti: “Bayaloyika lonke ilizwi elirhabaxa elichasa iinkonzo ngemvakalelo enye naleyo abo bawo bangcwele babesa koyika ngayo ilizwi elirhabaxa elichasa ukukhula kokunqulwa kwabangcwele nabafelukholo ababekukhuthaza. . . . Amabandla abizwa ngokuthi ngawovangelo amaProtestanti aziqamangele izandla zamanye kwakunye nezawo, ukuze, ngaphakathi kwawo ewonke, umntu angabi nako ukushumayelakonke,naphi na,engakhange amkele incwadiethile ngaphandle kweBhayibhile. . . . Asinto ecingelwayo intetho ethi amandla enkolo ngoku aqala ukwalela [ukusetyenziswa kwayo] iBhayibhile ngokuqinisekileyo njengoko iRoma yenzayo, nangona oko kusenzeka ngendlela erhubuluzayo.”--Sermon on “The Bible a Sufficient Creed,” eyashunyayelwa eFort Wayne, Indiana, Feb. 22, 1846.IE18 348.3

Xa iititshala ezinyanisekileyo zichaza ilizwi likaThixo, kubakho amadoda afundileyo, abafundisi abathi bayazazi iziBhalo, abahlasela imfundiso ephilileyo njengolahlekiso, baze ngaloo ndlela babagxothe abo basayifunayo inyaniso. Ukuba bekungengakuba ihlabathi linxile ngokungenako ukuzinceda yiwayini yaseBhabheli, izihlwele beziya koyiseka ziguqulwe ziinyaniso ezicacileyo nezihlabayo zelizwi likaThixo. Ngenxa yale meko, ukholo lwenkolo lubonakala luphazamiseke lungenamkhondo kangangokuba abantu abazi nokuba mabakholelwe ntoni njengenyaniso. Isono sokungazohlwayi kwehlabathi silele emnyangweni webandla. Isigidimi sengelosi yesibini yesiTyhilelo 14 saqala ukushunyayelwa ngehlobo lowe-1844, saza ngelo xesha satsola ngokucacileyo ukubhekisa kumabandla eMelika yezizwana eziManyeneyo [iUSA], apho isilumkiso somgwebo savakaliswa khona ngokubanzi nalapho saliwa khona ngokukhulu, nalapho ukuhla kwamabandla kuye kwakhawuleza khona kakhulu. Sona isigidimi sengelosi yesibini asizange sifikelele ekupheleleni kokuzaliseka kwaso ngowe-1844. Amabandla ngelo xesha aba namava okuwa ngasekuziphatheni, isiphumo eso sokwala kwawo ukukhanya kwesigidimi sokubuya; kodwa noko kuwa kwakungaphelelanga. Njengoko eqhubeka nokuzala iinyaniso ezizodwa zeli xesha, aqhubeka nokuwa esiya phantsi ngakumbi. Akukatshiwo ke kodwa ukuthi, “Iwile iwile iBhabheli, . . . kuba iseze zonke iintlanga ngewayini yomsindo wobuhenyu bayo.” Ayikazenzi zonke izizwe ukuba zikwenze oku. Umoya wokungavumelani nokungazikhathaleli kwehlabathi iinyaniso zovavanyo zeli xesha ukhona, kwaye uyangenelela kumabandla enkolo yobuProtestanti kuwo wonke amazwe anolawulo lobuKristu; aye la mabandla equkwa ekulahlelweni phantsi okoyikekayo yingelosi yesibini. Wona umsebenzi wokreqo awukafikeleli kuvuthondaba.IE18 349.1

IBhayibhile ithi, ngaphambi kokuza kweNkosi, uSathana uya kusebenza “ngayo imisebenzi yonke yamandla, nemiqondiso, nezimanga, zobuxoki, nangako ukulukuhla konke kokungalungisi;” baze bonke abo “bangakwamkelanga ukuyithanda inyaniso, ukuze basindiswe,” bayekwe ukuba bamkele “ulahlekiso olusebenza ngamandla ukuze bakholwe bubuxoki.” 2 Tesalonika 2:9-11. Kungekade kufikelelwe kule meko, buthi ubunye bebandla nehlabathi bufezekiswe ngokupheleleyo kulo lonke ulawulo lobuKristu, ukuwa kweBhabheli akuyi kuphelela. Inguquko ithabatha ixesha ukwenzeka, kwaye ukuzaliseka okugqibeleleyo kwesiTyhilelo 14:8 kuse kokwexesha elizayo.IE18 349.2

Nangona bukho ubumnyama basemoyeni nokumka kuThixo emabandleni awenza iBhabheli, iqela elikhulu labalandeli abanyanisileyo bakaKristu lisafumaneka phakathi kwayo. Baninzi kwaba abangazanga bazibona iinyaniso ezizodwa zeli xesha. Abakho mbalwa abanganelisekanga yimeko yabo yangoku, baye belangazelela ukukhanya okucace kakhulu. Bakhangela ngelize, befuna umfanekiselo kaKristu emabandleni abazihlanganise nawo. Le mizimba iya isimka ngokumka enyanisweni, kwaye iya izayamanisa ngokuzayamanisa nehlabathi, umahluko phakathi kwamaqela amabini uya ubamkhulu, kwaye ekugqibeleni kuza kubakho ukwahlukana. Liza kufika ixesha xa abo bamthanda uThixo ngaphezu kwako konke, bangayi kukwazi ukuhlala behlangene “nabathandi beziyolo kunokuba bathande uThixo; benokumila kokuhlonela uThixo ukanti bayawakhanyela amandla ako.”IE18 350.1

IsiTyhilelo 18 salatha kwixesha ekuya kuthi, ngenxa yokwaliwa kwesilumkiso esintlantu-ntathu sesiTyhilelo 14:6-12, ibandla liya kuba lifikelele ngokupheleleyo kwimeko exelwe kwangaphambili yingelosi yesibini, baze abantu bakaThixo abaseseBhabheli babizwe ukuba bazahlule kubudlelwane nayo. Esi sigidimi sesokugqibela esiya kuze sinikwe ihlabathi; kwaye siya kuwugqiba umsebenzi waso. Xa abo “bangakholwanga yiyo inyaniso, basuka bakholiswa kuko ukungalungisi” (2 Tesalonika 2:12), beya kuyekwa ukuba bakholelwe lulahlekiso olunamandla nokuba bakholelwe bubuxoki, kuya kuthi ngoko ukukhanya kwenyaniso kukhanye phezu kwabo iintliziyo zabo zivulekileyo ukuba bakwamkele, baze bonke abantwana beNkosi abaseseBhabheli baluve ubizo, oluthi: “Phumani kuyo, bantu bam” (IsiTyhilelo 18:4).IE18 350.2