Isahluko 35—Ukuncindezelwa Kwelungelo Lomzwangedwa.

Inkolo yamaRoma isiyamukelwa ngamabandla asungulwa ngabavuseleli ngesandla sobungane lamhlanje okwedlula emnyakeni edlulileyo. Emazweni lawa lapho inkolo yebandla leRoma engakhuli khona, abaholi bayo bathatha amanyathelo wokwakha ubudlelwano labaholi bamazwe lawa ukwenzela ukuthi bathole amandla ababelawo endulo, kulokhe kusanda ukuyekethisa mayelana lemfundiso ezehlukanisa amabandla emvuselelo laleyo efundiswa ngabopapa, njalo kulombono olokhe ukhula owokuthi, asehlukananga okuyangaphi njalo lokuthi ukuyekethisa okuncane ehlangothini lwethu kuzayenza ukuthi sizwisise ngcono inkolo yamaRoma. Kwakulesikhathi lapho amabandla emvuselelo ayeqakathekisa ukukhululeka kwabantu kwezenkolo okwakuthengwe ngentengo ephezulu kakhulu. Babefundisa abantwababo ukuthi bangahlanganyeli lemfundiso yabopapa njalo babekholwa ukuthi ukuzama ukubambana leRoma kwakusitsho ukuhlamukela uNkulunkulu. Kodwa asetshiyene kangakanani amazwi akhulunywa lamuhla lalawa awasendulo! {GC 563.1}IEP 562.1

Labo abamele umbuso wabopapa bafundisa ukuthi ibandla leRoma livezwe ngendlela engaqondanga, njalo amabandla emvuselelo lamhlanje azimisele ukwamukela amazwi lawa. Abanengi bathi akuqondanga ukwahlulela ibandla lakathesi ngezenzo elazenza endulo ngesikhathi sokungazi njalo lesobunyama. Bavikela izenzo zalo zochuku ngokuthi bathi kwakungenxa yobudlova bezikhathi elalikizo njalo bathi indonsela yokwanda kolwazi seyaguqula isimo salo. {GC 563.2}IEP 562.2

Ngabe abantu laba sebekhohliwe amazwi akhulunywa libandla leli awokuthi ngeke liguquke na? Kulokuthi lokhu kuguqulwe, amazwi lawa aphinde aqiniswa eminyakeni edlulileyo ngamandla amakhulu okwedlula endulo. Njengoba iRoma isitsho ukuthi “ibandla alizange lenze iphutha, futhi ngeke lenze iphutha, ngokuseMbhalweni, ngeke lenze iphutha.” (John L. von Mosheim, Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, book 3, century ll, part, 2, chapter 2, section 9, note 17), manje lingaguqula njani imfundiso ezazilawula indlela yalo emnyakeni edlulileyo na? {GC 564.1}IEP 563.1

Ibandla elikhokhelwa ngupapa alisoke lilahle amazwi walo wokuthi ngeke lenze iphutha. Konke lokho elakwenzayo ngokubulala labo abala ukwamukela imfundiso zalo, ibandla leli lithi kwakuqondile, njalo lingekela yini ukuphinda izenzo zalo nxa ithuba lingabakhona? Nxa imigoqo leyi ebekwe ngamazwe ingasuswa amandla weRoma abuyiselwe njengasendulo, kuzabonakala uchuku lwalo njalo lokuhlukumeza elakwenzayo endulo. {GC 564.2}IEP 563.2

Omunye umlobi owazakalayo nxa wayebhala ngesimo sabaholi besihlalo sikapapa mayelana lokukhululeka komzwangedwa, njalo lobubi obuzakwehlela ilizwe laseAmerica ngenxa yokuphumelela kwesisekelo sombuso walo: {GC 564.3}IEP 564.1

“Kulabantu abanengi abahlala bezimisele ukuchaza konke ukwesaba mayelana lebandla leRoma elizweni laseAmerica njengokungamukeli labo abalembono ehlukene leyakho loba ubuntwana. Abantu laba ababoni lutho esimeni sebandla leli ngendlela elizonda ngayo inhlanganiso zethu ezikhululekileyo, futhi ababoni bubi ekukhuleni kwalo. Asiqaleni ngokuqathanisa imfundiso zikahulumende wethu ezimqoka lalezo ezebandla leRoma. {GC 564.4}IEP 564.2

“Isisekelo sombuso waseUnited States sinika wonke umuntu amandla wokulandela umzwangedwa wakhe. Akulanto eligugu njalo ebaluleke okwedlula lokhu. Upapa uGregory XVI nxa wayebhala ngomnyaka ka1832 mhlaka 15 ngenyanga kaNcwabakazi wathi: “Imfundiso lezi ezingelangqondo njalo ezingaqondanga loba amazwi okuvikela ukukhululeka kwemzwangedwa yabantu aliphutha elibi kakhulu, ayibudli, okwedlula ezinye, okumele azondwe elizweni.’ Upapa uPius IX, encwadini eyinye ngomnyaka ka1864 mhlaka 8 ngoMpalakazi, waqalekisa ‘labo abaphakamisa ukukhululeka komzwangedwa njalo lokukhuleka kwezenkolo’ futhi ‘lalabo abafundisa ukuthi ibandla akumelanga libambe abantu ngamandla.’ {GC 564.5}IEP 564.3

“Ukuthi ibandla leRoma elizweni lase America libonakala lilungile akutsho ukuthi inhliziyo yalo seyatshintsha. Liyazehlisa lapho elibona khona ukuthi alilamandla. UBhishopi O’Connor uthi: ‘Ukukhululeka kwezenkolo kuyamukelwa kuphela kuzekuyefika lapho imfundiso ephikisayo efakwa khona ingaphambanisi umbuso webandla leRoma. ‘Umholi webandla laseSt. Louis wake wathi: “Imfundiso yamanga lokungakholwa kungamacala, njalo emazweni akholwa inkolo yamaKrestu, afana laseItaly njalo laseSpain, lapho abantu bonke abangamaRoma njalo lapho inkolo yamaRoma eyingxenye yomthetho welizwe, lokhu kuyajeziswa njengamanye amacala.’ {GC 565.1}IEP 565.1

“Bonke abaholi abaphezulu bebandla leRoma bathatha isifungo sokulandela lokuhlonipha upapa, esifungweni sakhona kutholakala amazwi lawa: ‘Labo abaphikisa inkolo yebandla, labahlamukela inkosi yethu (upapa) kumbe labo abathatha isikhundla ngemva kwakhe, ngizabahlukumeza ngamandla wami wonke njalo ngibaphikise.’”- (Josiah Strong, Our Country, ch.5, pars. 2-4.) {GC 565.2}IEP 565.2

Kuliqiniso ukuthi kulamaKrestu akholwa ngokweqiniso ebandleni lamaRoma. Inkulungwane zabantu ebandleni leli zikhonza uNkulunkulu ngokukhanya esilakho. Abafundiswa ukuthi kufanele bazibalele iBhayibhili njalo ngaleso isizatho abalazi iqiniso. Abakaze babone umahluko phakathi kokukhonza ngenhliziyo yonke njalo lokulandela amasiko lemfundiso yabantu. UNkulunkulu ukhangela abantu laba ngozwelo, loba befundisiwe ngendlela abafundiswe ngayo enkolweni ekhohlisayo njalo engabasuthisiyo. Uzabangela ukuthi imisebe zokukhanya zingene ebunyameni abaphakathi kwabo. Uzabavezela iqiniso njengoba likuKrestu, njalo abanengi abo bazakhetha ukuma labantu bakaNkulunkulu ekucineni. {GC 565.3}IEP 565.3

Kodwa inkolo yamaRoma ngokubunjwa kwayo ayivumelani levangeli likaKrestu lakathesi njengalokho eyayiyikho khona endulo. Amabandla emvuselelo lawo asebunyameni obukhulu, ngoba ngabe bekunganjalo bebezananzelela izibonakaliso zokuphela kwesikhathi. Ibandla leRoma lilamacebo amanengi okukhulisa amandla walo. Lisebenzisa wonke amaqhinga wokwengeza indonsela yalo njalo lokwengeza amandla walo njengoba lilungiselela impikiswano enkulu yokuthola ukubusa elalilakho emhlabeni, njalo lokuvuselela ukuhlukumeza kwasendulo, njalo lokubuyisela konke okwatshintshwa ngabaVuseleli. Inkolo yebandla leRoma lokhe ikhula endaweni ezinengi. Lokhu kubonakala ngokwanda kwamabandla wabo emazweni eMvuselelo. Khangela indlela izikolo zabo ezithandwa ngayo elizweni laseAmerica, ezisetshenziswa langabantu abakholwa ukuthi bangabavuseleli. Khangela indlela inkolo yamasiko lemimoya ekhula ngayo elizweni laseNgilandi njalo labantu abaphenduka besiba ngamaRoma. Zonke lezi izinto kumele zivuse bonke abaqakathekisa ukuhlambuluka kwevangeli. {GC 565.4}IEP 565.4

Amabandla abavuseleli kudala aqala ukuzihlanganisa njalo lokuphakamisa upapa, sebavumela ukuyekethisa njalo lokwamukela izinto ezimangalisa abaholi bebandla leRoma ngokwabo. Abantu bavala amehlo ukuthi babone isimo senkolo yeRoma esiqotho njalo lengozi ezalethwa yikubusa kwalo. Abantu kumele bafundiswe indlela zokuphika amacebo ayenziwa yisitha lesi esiyingozi esizabhidliza ukukhululeka kwezombusazwe njalo lakwezokholo. {GC 566.1}IEP 566.1

Abantu abanengi bacabanga ukuthi inkolo yeRoma ayithathekisi njalo inkonzo zabo azijabulisi, njalo azilamsebenzi. Yikho lapho abayenza khona iphutha. Loba nje inkolo yeRoma yakhelwe phezu kwemfundiso e ehlose ukudukisa abantu, inkonzo zabo zihlelekile kakhulu. Inkonzo zebandla leRoma ziyathathekisa kakhulu. Ubuhle bemifanekiso njalo lenkonzo zabo kumangalisa ingqondo zabantu njalo kuyathulisa ilizwi lomcabango njalo lomzwangedwa. Ilihlo liyahugeka. Balezakhiwo ezinhle kakhulu, lenkonzo ezihlelekileyo, lama lathi egolide, lemifanekiso ethathekisayo, eyenza ukuthi lowo oyibonayo athathekiswe yibuhle lobu. Lendlebe lazo ziyathathekiswa. Ingoma zabo zedlula zonke. Inkonzo yabo yokuhlabelela ndawonye lamachacho abawasebenzisayo akwehluleki ukuthathekisa ingqondo ngendlela okucoleke ngayo. {GC 566.2}IEP 566.2

Ukucwebezela kwenkonzo zabo, kuphambene lalokho okudingwa yinhliziyo esindwa yisono, njalo kuyibufakazi benkohliso ephakathi. Inkolo kaKrestu ayidingi ukubukisa konke lokhu ukuthi abantu bayamukele. Ekukhanyeni okuphuma esiphambanweni, isiKrestu seqiniso sivela sihlambulukile njalo sisihle okokuthi akudingeki ukucecesa kwangaphandle ukuthi kubonakale ukuqakatheka kwaso. Kuyibuhle bobungcwele, lomoya ozehlisayo njalo olokulunga, owamukelekayo phambi kaNkulunkulu. {GC 566.3}IEP 566.3

Ubuhle bangaphandle asiyibo obubumba isilinganiso semicabango emsulwa njalo lephakemeyo. Ukwazi ngezinto ezinhle, njalo lokuthanda izinto eziphakemeyo zasemhlabeni kwande ukutholakala engqondweni ezingalunganga. Lokhu kujwayele ukusetshenziswa nguSathane ukuhola abantu ukuthi bakhohlwe izinto ezibalulekileyo ezidingwa ngumphefumulo, lokulahlekelwa lulwazi lwalokho okuzayo, lempilo engapheliyo, lokuthi bafulathele uMsizi wabo omkhulu, njalo lokuthi baphilele impilo yalumhlaba kuphela. {GC 567.1}IEP 567.1

Inkolo ephakamisa lokho okubonakala emehlweni wabantu iyamukeleka lula enhliziyweni engaphendukanga. Inkonzo zebandla leRoma ezilokuphakama emehlweni wabantu zilamandla wokudonsela abantu, njalo ngale indlela abanengi bayakhohliswa, njalo bacina bekhangela ibandla leRoma njengesango lokungena ezulwini. Akulamuntu ngaphandle kwalabo abagxilise inyawo zabo esisekelweni seqiniso, njalo abalenhliziyo ezivuselelwe nguMoya kaNkulunkulu, ongenelisa ukuphika indonsela yalo. Inkulungwane zabantu ezingelabo ubudlelwano obuqotho loKrestu zizaholelwa ukuthi zamukele izimo zokukholwa ezingelawo amandla. Inkolo efana laleyi yiyo ethandwa yizigidi zabantu. {GC 567.2}IEP 567.2

Imfundiso yebandla leRoma eyokuthi lilamandla wokuthethelela izono yenza ukuthi amalunga ebandla leRoma ecabange ukuthi bakhululekile ukuthi bone, njalo umkhuba wokuvuma kuphela oletha intethelelo, lenza ukuthi abantu bakhululeke ekoneni kwabo. Lowo lalowo oguqa phambi komuntu wesono njengaye, futhi avume izono zakhe lemfihlo yenhliziyo yakhe, uzehlisa isithunzi njalo ululaza wonke amandla womphefumulo wakhe. Ngokuvuma izono zakhe phambi kompristi, umuntu oyisoni njengaye, esikhathini esinengi odakwe yiwayini, izinga lesimo sakhe liyehla, njalo lokhu kwenza ukuthi angcoliswe. Imicabango yakhe ngoNkulunkulu iyehla icine ifana leyomuntu wesono, ngoba umpristi uma phambi kwakhe njengomeli kaNkulunkulu. Ukuvunywa kwezono lokhu emuntwini kuyisifula esifihlakeleyo lapho okugeleze khona ububi obukhulu obungcolisa umhlaba njalo obuwenza ulungele ukubhujiswa kwawo kokucina. Kulowo othanda ukuzithokozisa, kungcono ukuvuma izono emuntwini kulokuvula inhliziyo phambi kaNkulunkulu. Kuyamukeleka ngcono emuntwini ukuthenga intethelelo kulokutshiya isono, kulula ukugqoka amasaka lameva njalo lamaketane kulokulahla inkanuko zomzimba. Linzima ijogwe inhliziyo yenyama ezimisele ukulithwala kulokukhothamela ijogwe likaKrestu. {GC 567.3}IEP 567.3

Kulokuhambelana okumangalisayo phakathi kwebandla leRoma lebandla lamaJuda ngesikhathi sikaKrestu nxa wayesemhlabeni. Nxa amaJuda ayesephula yonke imilayo kaNkulunkulu ensitha, ngaphandle babebonisa ukuthi babengayekethisi ekulandeleni imfundiso yawo, besengeza amajogwe kanye lamasiko abo okwenza ukuthi ukulalela kube buhlungu njalo ubengumthwalo ebantwini. Njengoba amaJuda ayefundisa ukuthi balandela umlayo, abaholi beRoma labo benza sengathi baphakamisa isiphambano. Baphakamisa umfanekiso wokuhlupheka kukaKrestu, kodwa empilweni zabo bayamphika lowo isiphambano esimvezayo. {GC 568.1}IEP 568.1

Abaholi bebandla bafaka imfanekiso yeziphambano emabandleni wabo, lakuma lathi, lasezembathweni zabo. Kuzozonke indawo kugcwele imfanekiso yeziphambano. Kuzozonke indawo isiphambano siyaphakanyiswa emehlweni wabantu. Kodwa imfundiso kaKrestu igejelwe ngaphansi kwamasiko angekho eBhayibhilini, lasengcazelweni zamanga, njalo lasemfundisweni ezibangela ukuthi inkolo kaKrestu ibengumthwalo onzima. Amazwi kaKrestu awakhuluma phambi kwabaholi besizwe samaJuda alomutsho omkhulu phezu kwabaholi bebandla leRoma lamhlanje: “Bayabopha imithwalo enzima, bayibeke emahlombe abantu, kodwa bona kabavumi ukuyisusa ngomunwe wabo.” (Mathewu 23:4). Abantu abangalalwazi bagcinwa ngaphansi kokwesaba ngoba besesaba ulaka lukaNkulunkulu abamkhubileyo, ngesikhathi esifanayo abaholi abanengi baphila impilo yezinothi njalo leyokuzithokozisa. {GC 568.2}IEP 568.2

Ukukhonzwa kwemifanekiso lezithombe, lokukhonzwa kwabangcwele abafileyo, lokuphakanyiswa kukapapa, konke lokhe kuzindlela uSathane azisebenzisa ukususa ingqondo zabantu kuNkulunkulu laseNdodaneni yakhe. Ukwenzela ukuthi athole ukubhubha kwabo, uyenza imizamo yonke ukuthi asuse imicabango yabo kulowo abangathola kuye usindiso. Uyabakhomba loba kuyiphi into engakhonzwa endaweni yalowo owathi: “Wozani kimi, lonke elikhatheleyo lelisindwayo, ngizaliphumuza.” (Mathewu 11:28). {GC 568.3}IEP 568.3

Kuyinjongo kaSathane ngazozonke izikhathi ukuphendulela isimo sikaNkulunkulu, lesimo sesono, njalo lazo zonke izinto ezimqoka phakathi kwempikiswano leyi enkulu ephakathi kobuhle lobubi. Amaqhinga wakhe ayenza ukuthi abantu bayekethise ukulandela ilimayo engcwele kodwa abenza ukuthi babelesibindi sokwenza okubi. Ngesikhathi esifanayo ubenza ukuthi bathande imbono yamanga mayelana loNkulunkulu ukwenzela ukuthi bamkhangele ngokwesaba njalo lenzondo kulokuthi bamthande. Uchuku olukuye ulubeka phezu koMdali, lubonakala enkolweni ezinengi ezisemhlabeni njalo lasenkonzweni ezehlukeneyo. Ngale indlela ingqondo zabantu ziyavalwa, njalo uSathane uyabaholela ukuthi babeyizisebenzi zakhe ezilwisana loNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yolwazi olungaqondanga mayelana loNkulunkulu, amazwe abahedeni aholelwa ukuthi anikele abantwana babo emlilweni ngoba bezama ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu, njalo uchuku olwesabekayo lwenziwa ngaphansi kwenkonzo ezinengi ezenziwa yilabo abakhonza izithombe. {GC 569.1}IEP 569.1

Ibandla leRoma ngemva kokuhlanganisa inkonzo zalabo abakhonza izithombe lezesiKrestu, njalo ngokufana lalokho okwakusenziwa yilabo abakhonza izithixo, bayaphendulela isimo sikaNkulunkulu lalo lenza izenzo ezibonisa uchuku njalo lokuhlamuka okufananayo. Ngensuku lapho amandla wokubusa ayengaphansi kwamaRoma kwakusetshenziswa uchuku ngesizatho sokubamba abantu ngamandla ukuthi bamukele imfundiso yebandla. Kwakulendawo yokutshiswa ngomlilo eyayilindele labo ababesala ukwamukela intando yebandla. Abantu babebulawa ngobunengi obungeke bazakale kuze kufike usuku lokwahlulela. Abaholi bebandla bafunda ngaphansi kwenkosi yabo uSathane, ukuphuma lendlela ezazizaletha ubuhlungu obukhulu bengathathanga impilo yalowo ababemhlukumeza. Ezikhathini ezinengi indlela lezi zokuhlukumeza abantu zaziphindwa phindwa, kuze kufike isikhathi lapho umzimba owawungasela mandla wokulwisana lobuhlungu lobu, njalo lowo owayehlukunyezwa wayesamukela ukufa njengendlela yokukhululwa. {GC 569.2}IEP 569.2

Leyi kwakuyintengo yokuphikisana leRoma. Kulabo ababelandela inkolo yebandla kwakulendlela yokubajezisa ngokutshaywa, langokuncitshwa ukudla, njalo lokulinyazwa emzimbeni, okugulisa inhliziyo. Ukwenzela ukuthi bamukeleke ezulwini, abantu laba babesephula imithetho kaNkulunkulu ngokwephula imilayo yemvelo. Babefundiswa ukwephula imilayo yonke eyayidalelwe ukubusisa njalo lokwenza ukuthi uhambo lwabantu emhlabeni lube ngolwenjabulo. Iguma lebandla ligcwele izigidi zabantu abachitha impilo yabo yonke bezama ukunyathezela yonke imizwa yothando, loku bandezela kube sengathi licala phambi kaNkulunkulu, ukuvumela imicabango njalo lemizwa yokuzwela ezinye izidalwa ezifana labo. {GC 569.3}IEP 569.3

Nxa sifuna ukuzwisisa uchuku lukaSathane, olwabonakala okweminyaka eminengi, hatshi kulabo ababengelalwazi ngoNkulunkulu, kodwa enzikini yenkolo yesiKrestu, kudingeka ukuthi sikhangele imbali yebandla leRoma. Ngokusebenzisa ibandla leli elikhulu njalo elikhohlisa umhlaba wonke, uSathane uyenelisa ukufeza injongo yakhe yokwenza ukuthi uNkulunkulu azondwe emhlabeni labantu babemadabudabu. Nxa sibona ukuthi uphumelela kanjani ukuzifihla njalo lokuphumelelisa umsebenzi wakhe esebenzisa abaholi bebandla, singenelisa ukuzwisisa ukuba kungani ezonda iBhayibhili kangaka. Nxa iBhuku leli lingabalwa, umusa njalo lozwelo lukaNkulunkulu luzavezwa, kuzabonakala ukuthi kabeki phezu kwabantu ngitsho lowodwa umthalo esiwubonayo. Kuphela akucelayo yinhliziyo evumayo, lomoya wokuzehlisa lowokulandela intando yakhe. {GC 570.1}IEP 570.1

UKrestu kasiniki empilweni yakhe umzekeliso wokuthi abesilisa labesifazane kumele bazivalele endaweni ezithile ezakhiwe libandla ukwenzela ukuthi bafanele umbuso wezulu. Kazake afundise ukuthi uthando lozwelo kumele lunyathezelwe. Inhliziyo yoMsindisi yayiphuphuma ngothando. Nxa abantu besondela esimeni sokulunga, bayaqala ukuzwisisa ububi besono, njalo bayaqala ukuzwela labo abasebuhlungwini. Upapa uzibiza ngokuthi unguMmeli kaKrestu, kodwa isimo sakhe siyafana yini laleso esoMsindisi wethu? UKrestu wake waziwa ngokuthi wayephosela abantu entolongweni kumbe emlilweni ngoba bengazange bamhloniphe njengeNkosi yezulu na? Ilizwi lakhe lake lezwakala libeka isigwebo sokufa phezu kwalabo abangamukelanga na? Nxa wayethukwe ngabantu besigaba seSamaria, umpostoli uJohane wagcwala ulaka, njalo wabuza wathi: “Nkosi uyathanda ukuba sibize umlilo wehle ezulwini, ubaqothule na? njengalokho okwenziwa nguElija” UJesu wakhangela abafundi bakhe ngosizi, njalo wakhuza umoya wabo wochuku wathi: “Indodana yomuntu ayizanga ukuzobhubhisa impilo zabantu, kodwa ukubahlenga.” (Luka 9:54, 56). Umoya owawakuKrestu wehlukene kangakanani lalowo okulowo ozibiza ngokuthi unguMmeli wakhe emhlabeni. {GC 570.2}IEP 570.2

Ibandla leRoma manje libonisa isimo sokulunga lothando phambi kwabantu emhlabeni wonke, njalo liyavala ngokuxolisa abantu ngenxa yochuku olubumba imbali yalo. Ibandla leli selazigqokisa izembatho ezifana lezikaKrestu, kodwa ibandla leli alikaguquki. Yonke imfundiso yabopapa yasendulo lokhe isaphila lalamhlanje. Imfundiso ezasungulwa ngesikhathi sobunyama lokhe zisasekhona. Kakungabikhona ozikhohlisayo mayelana lebandla leli. Isihlalo sikapapa amabandla weMvuselelo azimisele kangaka ukusiphakamisa lamuhla, yiso esasibusa ngesikhathi seMvuselelo, lapho amadoda ayephefumelwe aphakamayo, anikela impilo zawo, ukuveza ububi baso. Ibandla leli lokhe lilokuziphakamisa okufananayo, okwenza ukuthi bazibeke phezu kwamakhosi lababusi njalo lokuzinika amandla kaNkulunkulu. Umoya walo lokhe ugcwele uchuku lwasendulo olwabangela ukuthi banyathezele inkululeko yabantu njalo babulale abangcwele bakaSomandla. {GC 571.1}IEP 571.1

Umbuso wabopapa uyilokho amazwi esiprofethi aveza ukuthi wawuzaba yikho, “ukuhlamuka kwensuku zokucina.” 2 Thesalonika 2:3,4). Kungeyinye yendlela ibandla leli elisebenza ngayo ukuthatha isimo esizavumela ukuthi lifeze injongo zalo, kodwa ngaphansi kwezimo lezi eziguquka okonwabu lifihla itshefu yenyoka. Lifundisa ukuthi, “Akumelanga kukhonzwe labantu abaphikisa imfundiso yebandla, kumbe labo okucatshangelwa ukuthi bangabahlamuki.” (Lenfant, volume 1, page 516). Kambe ibandla leli, elilembali yeminyaka eyinkulungwane elotshwe egazini labangcwele, selingamukelwa manje njengengxenye yebandla likaKrestu? {GC 571.2}IEP 571.2

Kulesizatho esibangela ukuthi emazweni alandela inkolo yesiKrestu ibandla leRoma livezwe njengebandla elilenkolo ehambelana lamabandla eMvuselelo lamuhla okwedlula endulo. Sekwaba lenguquko, kodwa inguquko leyi ayikho esihlalweni sikapapa. Ibandla leRoma kuliqiniso ukuthi libonakala lifana lamabandla eMvuselelo akhona lamhlanje, ngoba imfundiso yamabandla eMvuselelo seyahlehlela emuva kakhulu kusukela ensukwini zabaVuseleli. {GC 571.3}IEP 571.3

Njengoba amabandla eMvuselelo eqhubeke edinga ukwamukelwa kwasemhlabeni, amehlo wabo sewavalwa luthando lwamanga. Ababoni okunye okwehlukene lokuthi kulungile ukukholwa ukuthi kukhona okuhle phakathi kobubi bonke, njalo isiphetho sizakuba yikuthi ekucineni babone ubuhle njengento embi. Kulokuthi bamele ukholo olwanikwa abangcwele basendulo, manje bakhetha ukuxolisa ibandla leRoma ngenxa yezenzo zabo zokuveza ububi balo, njalo bacela ukuthethelelwa ngenxa yokungabamukeli benjalo lenkolo yabo ephikisana lamazwi weBhayibhili. {GC 571.4}IEP 571.4

Abantu abanengi, lakulabo abangamukeli inkolo yebandla leRoma, ababoni ngitsho lencani ingozi emandleni walo. Abanengi bafundisa ukuthi ubunyama kwezemfundo okwakukhona endulo kwabangela ukuthi imfundiso yebandla, lamasiko lokuhlukumeza kukhule, njalo lokuthi ulwazi oselukhona manje, lokukhululeka kwabantu ekukholweni kwabo kwenqabela ukuthi uchuku lwasendulo luvuseleleke. Umcabango wokuthi lokho okwenzeka endulo kungenzeka futhi lamhlanje uhlekwa ulunya. Kuliqiniso ukuthi ukukhanya okukhulu emfundweni, lasenkolweni, kuyakhanyisa esikhathini lesi. Ekuvulweni kwelizwi likaNkulunkulu, ukukhanya kwasezulwini sekwakhanyisela umhlaba wonke. Kodwa abantu kumele bakhumbule ukuthi ukwanda kokukhanya kutsho ukwanda kobunyama ngakolunye uhlangothi kulabo abakhetha ukumelana lakho. {GC 572.1}IEP 572.1

Ukubalwa kweBhayibhili ngomthandazo bekuzabonisa amabandla weMvuselelo isimo sabopapa seqiniso njalo bekuzabangela ukuthi bangazihlanganisi labo, kodwa abanengi bazibona sengathi bahlakaniphile kakhulu okwenza ukuthi bangaboni indingeko yokuzehlisa phambi kaNkulunkulu ukuthi baholelwe eqinisweni. Loba nje beziphakamisa ngokukhanyiselwa kwabo, abalalwazi ngeBhayibhili njalo langamandla kaNkulunkulu. Balendlela zokuthulisa umzwangedwa wabo, njalo bahlala bedinga lokho okungadingi ukuthi bazehlise njalo okungaphathelananga lokukholwa kweqiniso. Lokho abakufisayo yindlela zokukhohlwa uNkulunkulu ezakhanya njengendlela yokumkhumbula. Isihlalo sikapapa silamacebo afaneleyo wokusuthisa izifiso zabo bonke abanje. Bahlala belungele amaqembu amabili abantu abagoqela phose umhlaba wonke, labo abafuna ukusindiswa ngemisebenzi yabo, njalo lalabo abafuna ukusindiswa bephakathi kwezono zabo. Lapha yikho okulemfihlo yamandla webandla leli. {GC 572.2}IEP 572.2

Usuku olumnyama kwenzengqondo lubunise ukuthi luhle kumpumelelo yesipapa. Kusezaboniswa futhi ukuthi isikhathi lapho okulokukhanya elwazini lasengqondweni yabantu siletha ukuphumelela okulinganayo emandleni lawa. Eminyakeni edlulileyo, lapho abantu ababengelalo ilizwi likaNkulunkulu ezandleni zabo njalo lapho ababengelalo ulwazi lweqiniso, amehlo abo ayevaliwe, njalo inkulungwane ezinengi zabantu zadukiswa, ngoba babengayiboni imjibila eyayiphambi kwabo. Esikhathini esiphila kiso banengi abaphandlwa zimfundiso zabantu, “abakubiza ngokuthi yilwazi;” labo abananzeleli umjibila lowu njalo bangena kuwo sengathi amehlo abo avaliwe. UNkulunkulu wadala ngendlela yokuthi amandla wokucabanga aphiwa umuntu amukelwe njengesipho esivela kuMdali wakhe njalo kumele asetshenziswe ukuhambisa iqiniso lokulunga, kodwa nxa ubumina lokuziphakamisa kusamukelwa, njalo abantu nxa beqala ukuphakamisa imfundiso yabo phezu kwelizwi likaNkulunkulu, kulapho ukuhlakanipha okubayingozi enkulu okwedlula ukungazi. Ngale indlela ulwazi lwamanga lwesikhathi esiphila kiso, olwehlisa njalo olululaza ukukholwa kweBhayibhili, uzaphumelela ukulungiselela indlela yokuthi abantu bamukele amandla kapapa, lemfundiso zakhe zonke, ngendlela efana laleyo eyenziwa yikufihlwa kolwazi okwalungisela indlela yophakama kwabopapa endulo. {GC 572.3}IEP 572.3

Emizameni esikhona lamhlanje elizweni laseAmerica, eyokuzama ukutholela inhlanganiso njalo lamabandla isandla sokuxhaswa ngababusi belizwe, amabandla weMvuselelo alandela emanyathelweni wabaholi beRoma. Manje, bavula umnyango wokuthi upapa athole amandla elizweni laseAmerica awathathelwa kwamanye amazwe endulo. Njalo lokho okwenza ukuthi imizamo leyi ibaluleke kakhulu yikuthi injongo yabo emqoka ngeyokuthi bafuna ukuthi usuku lwangeSonto lwamukelwe njengosuku lokukhonza elizweni lonke, khona lokhu kungumkhuba owasungulwa eRoma, njalo ibandla leli eliwuphakamisa njengobufakazi bamandla walo. Kungenxa yomoya wabopapa, umoya wokubambana lamasiko womhlaba, osungene emabandleni amanengi njalo obahola ukuthi labo benze umsebenzi wokuphakamisa usuku lweSonto okwenziwa ngopapa abaphila endulo. {GC 573.1}IEP 573.1

Ngabe lowo obalayo ubengazwisisa amaqhinga azasetshenziswa empikiswaneni esiseduze ukufika emhlabeni, kufanele kuphela alonde imbali yamaqhinga asetshenziswa libandla leRoma ukwenza umsebenzi ofananayo endulo. Nxa ebefuna ukwazi ukuthi abaholi beRoma lalabo abamanye abandla nxa bebambene bazaphatha njani labo abaphikisa imfundiso yabo, kumele akhangele umoya ibandla leRoma elawubonisayo phezu kweSabatha lalabo ababelivikela. {GC 573.2}IEP 573.2

Kwasetshenziswa imithetho eyayibekwa ngamakhosi, lemihlangano emkhulu njalo lemithetho yebandla eyayisekelwa ngababusi belizwe ukuthi usuku lolu olwaluphakanyiswa yilabo ababekhonza izithombe lwamukelwe njalo luphakanyiswe ngamaKrestu. Isenzo sakuqala esenziwa ukuphakamisa ukuthi kukhonzwe ngosuku lwangeSonto senziwa nguConstantine ngomnyaka kaAD 321. Umthetho lowu wawutshela bonke abantu abebehlala emadolobheni ukuthi baphumule “ngosuku lokukhonzwa kwelanga,” kodwa wawuvumela abantu ababehlala emaphandleni ukuthi baqhubeke besebenza emasimini wabo. Loba nje kulusuku olwalukhonzwa yilabo ababekhonza izithixo, umthetho lowo wafakwa ngumbusi omkhulu ngemva kokwamukela kwakhe inkolo yesiKrestu. {GC 574.1}IEP 574.1

Ngemva kokunanzelela ukuthi umthetho lowu wawungelamandla okuthatha indawo yamandla kaNkulunkulu, ubhishopi uEusebius owayedinga ukuthandwa ngababusi, njalo owayengumngane kamongameli uConstantine, waqala imfundiso yokuthi uKrestu wayeguqule usuku lweSabatha walubeka ngosukulweSonto. Abazange balethe ngitsho lomugca ewodwa ovela eBhayibhilini eyayikusekela lokhu. Yena ngokwakhe uEusebius loba engananzeleli uyaveza ukuthi lokhu kwakungamanga njalo uyasivezela ukuthi ngubani owabuya lemfundiso leyi. Uthi yena, “Zonke izinto ezazisenziwa ngosuku lweSabatha, sesaziguqula ukuthi zenziwe ngoSuku lweNkosi.” (Robert Cox, Sabbath Laws and Sabbath Duties, page 538). Kodwa imfundiso yokugcina usuku lwangeSonto loba ingelasisekelo esiseBhayibhilini, yabangela ukuthi abantu banyathezele phansi iSabatha leNkosi. Bonke ababefisa ukuphakanyiswa ngumhlaba bakhetha ukwamukela usuku lolu olwaluthandwa ngumuntu wonke. {GC 574.2}IEP 574.2

Nxa isihlalo sikapapa sasilokhe sithola amandla, umsebenzi wokuphakamisa usuku lwangeSonto waqhubeka ukhula. Okwesikhathi eside abantu baqhubeka belima emasimini nxa babengayanga enkonzweni njalo usuku lwesikhombisa lweviki lwalulokhe lugcinwa njengosuku lweSabatha. Kodwa kancane kancane inguquko yayilokhe isenziwa. Labo ababehola ibandla banqatshelwa ukwahlulela emthethwandaba ngosuku lweSonto. Ngemva kwalokho, wonke umuntu watshelwa ukuthi engayenzi loba yiwuphi umsebenzi, kwabekwa isigwebo sokuhlawuliswa bonke abaqhatshi njalo labo ababeyizisebeni babegwetshelwa ukutshaywa. Ngemva kokuhamba kwesikhathi kwabekwa umthetho wokuthi bonke abanothileyo kwakumele bathathelwe ingxenye yenotho yabo njengesigwebo, lokuthi nxa beqhubeka besephula umthetho lowu babethathwa benziwe izigqili. Labo ababengela notho babegwetshelwa ukuxotshwa esigabeni kokuphela. {GC 574.3}IEP 574.3

Baqala njalo ukuhambisa imbiko yamanga yezibonakaliso lezimanga ezazisenzeka ngenxa yalolusuku. Phakathi kwezinye izimanga kwabikwa ukuthi nxa omunye wabalimi wayeseqala ukulima ensimini yakhe ngosuku lwangeSonto, wazama ukugezisa ikhuba lakhe, insimbi yekhuba yamhlaba yangena esandleni sakhe, njalo okweminyaka embili yayilokhe iphakathi kwesandla sakhe, “esizwa ubuhlungu njalo eyangeka phambi kwabantu.” — (Francis West, Historical and practical Discourse on the Lord’s Day, page 174). {GC 575.1}IEP 575.1

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi upapa watshela abapristi ukuthi batshele bonke abantu ababesephula usuku lweSonto ukuthi bayenkonzweni bayekutsho imikhuleko yabo, nxa bengenzanga njalo babezaletha ububi phezu kwabo njalo lakubomakhelwane babo. Umhlangano omunye owabizwayo wasebenzisa amazwi alokhe esetshenziswa lalamuhla wokuthi njengoba kwakube labantu ababetshaywe lizulu besebenza ngosuku lweSonto lokhu kwakusitsho ukuthi yilo usuku lweSabatha. Omunye wabo wathi: “Kusobala ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubengathokozanga ngabo ngenxa yokusebenza kwabo ngalolusuku.” Kwabekwa umthetho ngemva komhlangano lowu wokuthi bonke abapristi labafundisi, amakhosi lababusi, njalo labo bonke abantu abathembekileyo ukuthi “basebenzise wonke amandla abo ukuthi usuku lolu lubiselwe endaweni yalo, njalo ukwenzela ukuthi inkolo yamaKrestu yamukeleke, luphakanyiswe kakhulu esikhathini esasizakuza.” (Thomas Morer, Discourse in Six Dialogues on the Name, Notion and Observation of the Lord’s Day, page 271). {GC 575.2}IEP 575.2

Ngemva kokunanzelela ukuthi imithetho eyayibekwe yimihlangano yebandla yayingelawo amazinyo, ababusi bomhlaba bacelwa ukuthi bafake umthetho owawuzakwethusa abantu ubenze bame ukusebenza ngosuku lwangeSonto. Emhlanganweni owenzelwa edolobheni leRoma, yonke imithetho eyayibekwe ngaphambilini yavuselelwa njalo yanikwa amandla aphindiweyo. Yaphinda njalo yafakwa emthethweni yelizwe njalo yadluliselwa kuzo zonke indawo. (Heylyn, History of the Sabbath, pt. 2, ch. 5, sec. 7). {GC 575.3}IEP 575.3

Loba kwakunjalo iqiniso lokuthi kwakungela bufakazi beBhayibhili obabukhomba ukuba kwakumele kugcinwe usuku lweSonto kwakuyangisa abaholi bebandla. Abantu babehlala bebuza ukuthi abaholi babewathatha ngaphi amandla okulahla lokho okwakukhulunywe nguJehova wokuthi, “Usuku lwesikhombisa luliSabatha leNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu”, besenzela ukuthi bakhonze usuku olwalubekelwe ukukhonzwa kwelanga. Ukwenzela ukuthi bavale isikhala sokuthi kwakungelabufakazi beBhayibhili baqala ukudinga amanye amaqhinga. Omunye walabo ababefundisa abantu ukuthi baphakamise usuku lweSonto, wavakatshela amabandla ayeselizweni laseNgilandi, njalo waphikiswa yilabo ababezimisele ukuphakamisa iqiniso, imizamo yakhe yonke yehluleka okwabangela ukuthi asuke elizweni leli ukuthi ayedinga ezinye indlela zokwenza ukuthi balandele imfundiso yakhe. Wathi ephenduka, ubufakazi lobu ayengalabo ekuqaleni wayesebuthwele, njalo waqala ukuphumelela emsebenzini wakhe. Wabuya lencwadi ethile wafika wabatshela ukuthi yayivela kuNkulunkulu ngokwakhe, eyayilamazwi wokuthi kwakumele bakhonze ngosuku lwangeSonto, njalo yayilamazwi ayelezigwebo ezazibunjelwe ukuthi zethuse labo ababengafuni ukulalela imfundiso leyi. Wabatshela ukuthi incwadi leyi yayiwele eJerusalema ivela ezulwini, phezu kwelathi lika St. Simeon endaweni yaseGolgotha. Kodwa eqinisweni yayiphuma esigodlweni sikapapa edolobheni laseRoma. Zonke izenzo zobuqili ezenziwa kusukela endulo ukufeza injongo zebandla leRoma lokhe zisamukelwa njengezenzo ezilungileyo phambi kwabaholi bebandla. {GC 576.1}IEP 576.1

Incwadi leyi yayisenqabela ukuthi abantu basebenze kusukela ngehola lesithathu emini ngosukulwangeSabatha kusiyafika ekuphumeni kwelanga ngosuku lwangoMvulo, njalo amandla amazwi lawa kwafundiswa ukuthi ayevezwe yizimanga ezaziyenzakele. Kwalethwa umbiko wokuthi abantu abathile ababekhethe ukusebenza phakathi kwamahola lawa babehlaselwe ngumkhuhlane baba yizigoga. Kwabikwa njalo ukuthi eyinye indoda eyayizama ukugaya amabele ayo, kulokuthi ibone imphuphu iphuma, yabona kuphuma igazi. Omunye wawusithi kweyinye indawo umama owayezama ukupheka isinkwa wathi evula imbiza yakhe wathola inhlama lokhe iluhlaza loba nje wayeyifake emlilweni okwesikhathi eside. Omunye futhi owayefuna ukupheka isinkwa kodwa kwathi kufika ihola lesithathu wazitshela ukuthi wayezamelela ukuthi amahola lawa adlule aqhubeke ngoMvulo wathola inhlama yakhe yayisiphenduke yaba yizinkwa ngoba zaziphekwe ngamandla ezulu. Kwabikwa futhi ukuthi omunye owayekhethe ukupheka isinkwa ngemva kwehola lesithathu ngeSabatha wathola ukuthi nxa wayesihlephuna ekuseni, kwakuphuma igazi phakathi kwaso. Ngokusebenzisa imbiko engelangqondo efana laleyi ababezibumbele yona, laba ababefundisa abantu ukuthi bakhonze ngosuku lwangeSonto bazama ukwenza ukuthi kubonakale sengathi kwakubusiswe lizulu ukukwenza lokhu. (Roger de Hoveden, Annals, vol. 2, pp. 526-530). {GC 576.2}IEP 576.2

Elizweni lase Scotland njengaseNgilandi, abantu baholelwa ukuthi bamukele usuku lwangeSonto ngokulubambanisa lengxenye yokugcinwa kosuku lweSabatha okwakusenziwa endulo. Kodwa izikhathi zokugcina usuku lolu ngcwele zazitshiyana. Umthetho owabekwa yinkosi yaseScotland wawusithi “kusukela ngehola letshumi lambili emini ngosuku lwangeSabatha wonke umuntu kwakumele amukele amahola lawa njengamahola angcwele,” njalo lokuthi kwakungamelanga kube lomuntu kusukela ngalesi isikhathi kusiya fika ngoMvulo ekuseni okwakumele ayenze umsebenzi wakhe wokuziphumelelisa. (Morer, pages 290, 291). {GC 577.1}IEP 577.1

Kodwa loba kwakulemizamo yonke leyi yokudinga ubufakazi bokwenza ukuthi usuku lweSonto lwamukelwe njengosuku olungcwele, abaholi bebandla ngokwabo babevuma phambi kwabantu ukuthi iBhayibhili laliveza usuku lweSabatha olwehlukeneyo lolwabo njalo lokuthi lolu ababelubekile lwaluphuma emicabangweni yabantu. Omunye wemihlangano wabaholi bebandla leRoma wakhipha ilizwi elithi: “AmaKrestu wonke kumele akhumbule ukuthi usuku lwesikhombisa lwabusiswa nguNkulunkulu, njalo lamukelwa futhi lwahlonitshwa hatshi ngamaJuda kuphela, kodwa ngabo bonke abazibiza ngokuthi bakhonza uNkulunkulu, loba nje thina amaKrestu siguqukile iSabatha labo salwenza usuku lweNkosi.”- (Ibid., pages 281, 282). Labo ababezama ukuguqula umthetho ongcwele babesazi umsebenzi ababezama ukuwenza. Babezibeka phezu kwesihlalo sikaNkulunkulu. {GC 577.2}IEP 577.2

Isibonelo esimangalisayo esiveza indlela ibandla leRoma eliphatha ngayo labo abangavumelani lemfundiso yalo iboniswe ekuhlukumezweni lasekubulaweni kwabantu bohlanga lwamaWaldensi, abanengi bakhona ababegcina usuku lweSabatha. Abanye njalo bahlukunyezwa ngendlela efanayo ngenxa yokubambelela emthethweni wesine. Imbali yamabandla aselizweni laseEthopia njalo lase Abyssinia ibaluleke kakhulu. Phakathi kobuhlungu besikhathi sobunyama, amaKrestu asendaweni yeCentral Africa akhohlwa ngumhlaba. Njalo okwamakhulu amanengi eminyaka babekhululekile ukukhonza ngokwentando yabo. Kodwa ekucineni abaholi beRoma bezwa ngokuphila kwabo, njalo umongameli wase Abyssinia wamukela ngemva kwesikhatshana imfundiso yokuthi upapa unguMmeli kaKrestu emhlabeni. Ezinye indlela zokuvuma amandla kapapa zalandela. Kwabekwa umthetho owawubamba abantu ngamandla ukuthi bagcine usuku lweSonto ngcwele njalo kwafakwa izigwebo ezilukhuni kulabo ababezalwephula. (Michael Geddes, Church History of Ethopia, pages 311, 312). Kodwa uchuku lombuso kapapa ngemva kwesikhatshana lwaba lijogwe elinzima phezu kwabantu base Abyssinia bacina bekhetha ukulephula emahlombe wabo. Ngemva kokulwisana labo, bonke abaholi beRoma baxotshwa elizweni babuyisela inkolo yabo yasendulo. Amabandla aqala ukuthokoza njalo ngenkululeko abesebeyitholile, njalo abazange bakhohlwe isifundo ababesitholile mayelana lenkohliso, njalo lochuku lwamandla weRoma. Endaweni yabo ecatshileyo basuthiseka ngokuthi bahlale bengazakali phakathi kwamanye amaKrestu. {GC 577.3}IEP 577.3

Amabandla ezwekazi laseAfrica aqhubeka egcina usuku lweSabatha njengalokho okwakwenziwe libandla labopapa ngaphambi kokuhlamuka kwalo. Loba babegcine usuku lweSabatha ngenxa yokulandela umlayo kaNkulunkulu, bayekela ukusebenza ngeSonto ngoba belandela umthetho webandla. Ngemva kokuthola amandla wokubusa umhlaba wonke, ibandla leRoma lalikhethe ukuvoxa iSabatha leNkosi ngoba befuna ukuphakamisa elabo, kodwa amabandla aseAfrica, ngenxa yokuthi ayecatshile phose okweminyaka eyinkulungwane, awazange aphatheke ekuhlamukeni lokhu. Ngemva kokuba babengaphansi kombuso weRoma, baphoqelwa ukuthi balahle iSabatha leqiniso njalo baphakamise elamanga, kodwa ngemva kokuthola uzibuse babuyela ekulandeleni umthetho wesine. {GC 578.1}IEP 578.1

Imbali leyi iyabonisa indlela ibandla leRoma elizonda ngayo iSabatha leqiniso njalo lalabo abalimelayo, njalo lamaqhinga abawasebenzisayo ukuphakamisa usuku abazibumbela lona. Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lifundisa ukuthi izehlakalo lezi zizakuphindwa nxa ibandla leRoma lamanye amabandla azabambana ngoba befuna ukuphakamisa usuku lwangeSonto. {GC 578.2}IEP 578.2

Amazwi esiprofethi atholakala kuSambulo 13 ayaveza ukuthi umbuso ovezwe njengesilo esilempondo ezifana lezewundlu uzakwenza “umhlaba labakhileyo kuwo” ukuthi bakhonze upapa weRoma, yena ovezwe njengesilo “esifana lengwenya.” Isilo esilempondo ezimbili sizakuthi “kwabakhileyo emhlabeni kabasenzele umfanekiso isilo,” njalo sizaqhubeka, sitshele bonke, “abancinyane labakhulu, abanothileyo labayanga, abakhululekileyo lezigqili,” ukuthi bamukele uphawu lwesilo. (Sambulo 13:11-16). Kuveziwe ukuthi ilizwe laseAmerica yiwo umbuso omelwe yisilo esilempondo ezingathi ngezewundlu, njalo lokuthi amazwi lawa azagcwaliseka lapho ilizwe laseAmerica elizabeka khona umthetho wokuthi abantu bakhonze ngosuku lwangeSonto, ibandla leRoma elizigqaja ngokuthi lusuku olubonisa ukuthi lilamandla aphezu kwakaNkulunkulu. Kodwa esenzweni lesi sokukhonza upapa ilizwe laseAmerica alisoze libe lodwa. Indonsela yeRoma emazweni lawa elalibusa kiwo lokhe isesekhona lakathesi. Amazwi esiprofethi aveza ukuthi lizathola amandla walo futhi emhlabeni wonke. “Elinye lamakhanda aso kwakungathi lilenxeba elibangela ukufa, kodwa inxeba laso laphola umhlaba wonke wasilandela isilo umangele.” (Sambulo 13:3). Ukufakwa kwenxeba elibangela ukufa kuchaza ukuwa kombuso wabopapa ngomnyaka ka1798. Ngemva kwalokhu umprofethi uthi, “inxeba laso laphola, umhlaba wonke wasilandela isilo umangele.” UPhawuli uyaveza ukuthi “indoda yesono” izaqhubeka kuzekuyefika ukuza kweNkosi kwesibili. (2 Thesalonika 2:3-8). Kuze kuyefika ekupheleni kwesikhathi uzaqhubeka ngomsebenzi wakhe wokudukisa. Njalo umambuleli nxa ekhuluma ngesihlalo sikapapa uthi: “Bonke abakhileyo emhlabeni bazakusikhonza ngaphandle kwalabo amabizo wabo alotshwe encwadini yokuphila.” (Sambulo 13:8). Emhlabeni wonke, upapa uzakhonzwa ngenxa yokuhlonitshwa okuzanikwa usuku lwengeSonto, olweyame kuphela phezu kwamandla webandla leRoma. {GC 578.3}IEP 578.3

Kusukela emnyakeni ka1850, abafundi besiprofethi elizweni laseAmerica baqala ukuhambisa amazwi lawa emhlabeni wonke. Phakathi kwezehlakalo eziyenzakalayo lamhlanje, kuyabonakala ukuthi amazwi lawa asegcwaliseka ngesiqubu esikhulu. Kubafundisi bamabandla akhonza ngeSonto lokhe kulamazwi afanayo wokuzama ukusekela usuku lwangeSonto, njalo bayehluleka ukuveza ubufakazi beBhayibhili obusekela ukukhonza ngalo, njengabaholi bebandla leRoma abazama ukusebenzisa izimanga zamanga ukuthi kubonakale sengathi lwabekwa nguNkulunkulu. Amazwi okuthi ukwahlulela kukaNkulunkulu kwehlela abantu ngenxa yokwephula kwabo isabatha langeSonto, azakhulunywa futhi, lakathesi sebeqalile ukuwatsho. Njalo imizamo yokubeka usuku lwangeSonto njengosuku lukukhonza ilokhe ikhula nsuku zonke. {GC 579.1}IEP 579.1

Ibandla leRoma ligcwele ubuqili njalo lemfihlo eyisimanga. Liyenelisa ukubona okuzakwenzakala kungakafiki. Lilokubekezela, ngoba liyananzelela ukuthi amabandla amanengi ayalihlonipha ngenxa yokwamukela kwabo iSabatha lamanga njalo balungiselela ukulenza ukuthi libe ngumthetho ngendlela ezifana lalezo elazisebenzisayo ngokwalo endulo. Labo abaphika ukukhanya kweqiniso bazadinga ukuxhaswa libandla leli ukuthi benze usuku lolu olwasungulwa yibo lubekwe njengomthetho. Lizawaxhasa amabandla lawa ngenkulu intokozo ngoba besenza intando yalo. Ngubani ozwisisa okwedlula abaholi bebandla leRoma indlela yokuphatha labo abangafuni ukwenza intando yebandla? {GC 580.1}IEP 580.1

Ibandla leRoma, lazo zonke inhlanganiso abalazo emhlabeni wonke, libumba inhlanganiso eyodwa, edalelwe ukufeza injongo zikapapa. Izigidi zezisebenzi zalo ezisemazweni atshiyeneyo, zifundiswa ukuba bonke baphilela ukuthokozisa upapa. Akukhathalekile ukuthi baphuma kuliphi ilizwe kumbe uhulumende, kumele bamukele amandla webandla njengokuthi aphezu kwawo wonke amandla. Loba bengathatha izifungo zokuthi bazalandela yonke imithetho yelizwe, kodwa ngaphansi kwakho lokhu kuleqiniso lokuthi balalela ilizwi eliphuma eRoma, elibangela ukuthi benze lokho okujabulisa umholi walo kuphela. {GC 580.2}IEP 580.2

Imbali iyafakaza ngamaqhinga webandla leli wokuthola amandla emazweni atshiyeneyo, njalo ngemva kokuthola amandla, laliqhubeka ngokufeza injongo zalo loba kwakusitsho ukuthi babhidlize ababusi lamakhosi njalo labantu bakuleyo ndawo. Ngomnyaka ka1204, upapa uInnocent lll wenza ukuthi uPeter ll, inkosi yaseArragon yenze isifungo esilandelayo: “Mina uPeter, inkosi yaseArragon, ngiyavuma njalo ngiyathembisa ukuthi ngizahlonipha njalo ngithembeke phambi kweNkosi yami, upapa uInnocent, lakulabo abazathatha isikhundla ngemvakwakhe abebandla leRoma, njalo lebandla leRoma, njalo lokukwenza ukuthi isizwe sami sihlale sihlonipha yena, njalo sivikela inkolo yaseRoma, njalo sibulale bonke abaphikisana lenkolo leyi.” (John Dowling, The History of Romanism, b. 5, ch. 6, sec. 55). Lokhu kuvumelana lamazwi aveza amandla kapapa weRoma “awokuthi ulemvumo ngaphansi komthetho eyokukhipha ababusi” njalo lokuthi “ulamandla wokwenza ukuthi bonke abangaphansi kwakhe bayekele ukuhlonipha ababusi abangalunganga.” (Mosheim, b. 3, cent. 11, pt. 2, ch.2, sec. 9, note 17). {GC 580.3}IEP 580.3

Njalo kumele kukhunjulwe ukuthi, abaholi bebandla bazitshaya isifuba ngokuthi ibandla leli aliguquki. Imfundiso njalo lezenzo zika Gregory VII njalo loInnocent lll lokhe ziyinsika yebandla leRoma lalamuhla. Njalo ngabe belilamandla, belizakwenza ukuthi imfundiso leyi ilandelwe ngokufana lalokho elakwenza endulo. Amabandla lawa akhonza ngosuku lwangeSonto awakwazi akwenzayo nxa befuqa ukuthi kufakwe umthetho wokugcinwa kosuku lweSonto ngcwele elizweni laseAmerica. Nxa belokhe beqhubeka ngokuzimisela ukukwenza lokhu, ibandla leRoma lona lihlose ukuvuselela amandla walo, elawathathelwayo. Kungafakwa umthetho elizweni laseAmerica wokuthi ibandla lilamandla wokusebenzisa lokulawula amandla welizwe, lokuthi imithetho yokukholwa iyaqiniswa yimithetho yelizwe, ngamafitshane ukuthi amandla webandla lawelizwe yiwo okumele alawule imzwangedwa yabantu, ibandla leRoma lizaqala ukubusa ilizwe leli. {GC 581.1}IEP 581.1

Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lisinike isixwayiso mayelana lengozi ezayo, amazwi lawa angayekela ukulalelwa, amabandla lawa afuqa ukuthi kwamukelwe usuku lwangeSonto, azafunda ukuthi ziyini injongo zebandla leRoma, kodwa kuzabe sekungasabuyeleki emuva njalo sebeziphosele phakathi komjibila walo. Ibandla leli lokhe likhula ensitha ngokuthula. Imfundiso zalo zilendonsela ephalamende, lasemabandleni, njalo lasenhliziyweni zabantu. Lokhe lisakha izakhiwo zalo endaweni ezifihlakeleyo lapho ukuhlukunyezwa kwabantu okwenzeka endulo okuzaphindwa khona. Ensitha kungela muntu obonayo lokhe liqinisa amandla alo ukwenzela ukuthi nxa isikhathi sesifikile lihlasele. Kuphela elikudingayo yisimo esifaneleyo, njalo banengi abalinika lokhu lakathesi. Sizabona masinyane njalo sizwe ukuthi injongo yeRoma ivele iyini ngokweqiniso. Wonke umuntu ozakholwa njalo alandele ilizwi likaNkulunkulu uzakwamukela inzondo njalo lokuhlukunyezwa. {GC 581.2}IEP 581.2