Isahluko 7—Ukwehlukana KukaLuther Lebandla LeRoma

Phambi kwabo bonke ababebizelwe ukuholela ibandla ukuthi liphume ebumnyameni bemfundiso zabopapa liye ekukhanyeni kwenkolo yeqiniso kwakumi uMartin Luther. Indoda le yayilesibindi, izimisele, ingazi okunye ukwesaba kulokwesaba uNkulunkulu, yayingamukeli eyinye insika yokukholwa ngaphandle kweMibhalo eNgcwele. ULuther wayeyindoda efanele isikhathi ayephila kuso, ngokusebenzisa yena uNkulunkulu wenza umsebenzi omkhulu kakhulu wokuvuselela ibandla lokuletha ukukhanya emhlabeni wonke. {GC 120.1}IEP 120.1

Njengabanye ovulindlela bevangeli ababeze phambi kwakhe uLuther laye wayephume emulini eswelayo. Iminyaka yakhe yobutsha wayiphila emzini kayise owayehlala emaphandleni. Ngokusebenza, uyise wayesebenza emgodini wegolide, wasebenzisa imadlana ayeyithola ukufundisa indodana yakhe. Wayelesifiso sokuthi afunde abengummeli, kodwa uNkulunkulu wayesekhethile ukuthi uzaba ngumakhi wethempeli lakhe elalilokhe likhula kancane kancane okweminyaka eminengi. Ukusebenza nzima lokuswela kwabayisikolo esifaneleyo esasikhethwe nguJehova ukuthi silungiselele uLuther umsebenzi omkhulu okwakumele awenze. {GC 120.2}IEP 120.2

Uyise kaLuther wayelengqondo elamandla lekhaliphileyo futhi elesimilo esihle njalo ethembekile. Wayezimisele ukumela iqiniso kungakhathalekile ukuthi umphumela wawuzaba yini. Ukuqedisisa kwakhe, kwabangela ukuthi akhangele umbuso webandla ngelihlo lokungawuthembi. Wathukuthela nxa wayesizwa ukuthi indodana yakhe yayisihlanganyele lomsebenzi webandla leRoma, kwaphela iminyaka emibili engakamboni, loba kwasekudlule isikhathi esingaka wambonisa ukuthi wayengakujabulelanga lokhu. {GC 120.3}IEP 120.3

Abazali bakaLuther babeqakathekisa imfundo yabantwana babo. Bazimisela ukubafundisa ngoNkulunkulu langokuqakatheka kwemfundiso yesiKrestu. Umthandazo kababa wawuthunyelwa ezulwini kwesinye isikhathi indodana yakhe ilalele, ecela uNkulunkulu ukuthi asebenzise indodana yakhe ukuhambisa iqiniso. Wonke amathuba ayekhona okusiza abantwana ukuthi bakhe isimo esilungileyo asetshenziswa ngabazali babo. Imizamo yabo yonke yayingeyokuthi basize abantwana babo ukuthi bakhe izimilo ezifanele izulu. Ngokusebenzisa isandla esilukhuni, kwezinye izikhathi babesiba lukhuni ekufundiseni kwabo, kodwa uLuther wayethanda ukubona ubuhle bemizamo yabazali bakhe okwedlula amaphutha abo. {GC 121.1}IEP 121.1

Esikolweni ababemthumele kuso esesemncane, uLuther waphathwa kabi njalo kwezinye izikhathi wayehlukunyezwa. Abazali bakhe babengabayanga kakhulu okwabangela ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi wayethi engaphuma esikolo ahambe ehlabela emizini yabantu edinga indlela yokuthola ukudla. Imfundiso ezethusayo ezazikhona mayelana lokukholwa zazimenza athuthumele. Wayelala ebusuku elenhliziyo edabukileyo, ecabanga ngekusasa lakhe elalilobunyama, njalo esesaba uNkulunkulu ayefundiswe ukuthi wayelolaka njalo ethanda ukuhlukumeza abantu, hatshi njengobaba olungileyo osezulwini. {GC 121.2}IEP 121.2

Loba wayephila ngaphansi kwesimo esinje, uLuther wazimisela ukuthi wayezaphila impilo eqotho ngoba yiyo eyayimthokozisa. Wayelambele ulwazi, njalo ukuzimisela kwakhe lengqondo yakhe yayihlala ifuna ukuqedisisa, kwamenza ukuthi afise izinto ezilesisindo hatshi inotho lokuzibonakalisa okungasi ndawo. {GC 121.3}IEP 121.3

Nxa wayesefikise iminyaka elitshumi lesitshiyagalo mbili yokuzalwa, wangena esikolo esiphezulu edolobheni laseErfurt, impilo yangakibo yayisingcono kuleminyakeni eyayedlule. Abazali bakhe ngemva kokusebenza nzima ukuthi bathole imali, bakhetha ukuyisebenzisa emfundweni yakhe. Lendonsela yokuba labangani abaqotho yenza ukuthi impilo yakhe ibelenjabulo okwedlula iminyaka eyayedlule. Wazinika amathuba okufunda ingwalo zabalobi ababezingcitshi, njalo wazimisela ukuthatha ukukhalipha kwabo wakwenza okwakhe. Laseminyakeni eyayedlule ngaphansi kokufundiswa kwakhe, wayebonisile ukuthi ingqondo yakhe yayikhaliphile njalo ngemva kokudlulela phambili ngezifundo zakhe ingqondo yakhe yaqhubeka ikhula. Isipho sakhe sokugcina ekhanda lokhu ayekufundile, lokusebenza nzima ezifundweni zakhe kwabangela ukuthi abephezu kwabo bonke ayefunda labo. Ukuthola kwakhe ulwazi kwezemfundo lokuqedisisa kwakhe kwamenza ukuthi alungele ubunzima bempilo ayezahlangana labo. {GC 121.4}IEP 121.4

Ukwesaba uNkulunkulu kwakusenhliziyweni kaLuther, okwabangela ukuthi angaphambuki enkolweni yakhe njalo kwamenza ukuthi aphile impilo yokuzehlisa phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Wayelokunanzelela ukuthi ukuphumelela kwakhe kwakuvela kophezulu, njalo wayengaphuthi ukuqala usuku ngomthandazo, lenhliziyo yakhe yayihlala icela ukulondolozwa lokusingathwa. Wayehlala esitsho amazwi alandelayo, “Ukuthandaza kahle, kuyingxenye enhle yokubala.” — (D’ Aubigne, b.2, ch.2). {GC 122.1}IEP 122.1

Ngolunye usuku nxa uLuther wayehlolisisa ingwalo esikolweni sakhe esiphezulu, wahlangana leBhayibhili elalilotshwe ngolimi lwesiLatin. Wayengakaze ahlangane logwalo olufana lalolu. Wayengazi futhi ukuthi kwakulogwalo olunje emhlabeni. Wayeke wezwa ingxenye yemibhalo ngempilo kaJesu lezincwadi zifundwa enkonzweni wacabanga ukuthi kwakuyilo lonke ilizwi likaNkulunkulu ngokuphelela kwalo. Ngemizwa ehlangene lokumangala waqala ukulibala, ngenhliziyo elokumangala wazibalela amazwi okuphila, esima lapha lalapha esitsho amazwi athi: “Ngiyafisa kangakanani ukuthi uNkulunkulu anginike ugwalo olunje lami!” — (Ibid b.2, ch.2). Ingilosi zezulu zazimhanqile, insaba zokukhanya ezazivela esihlalweni sikaNkulunkulu zamvezela umthombo weqiniso walizwisisa. Wayehlala esesaba ukonela uNkulunkulu, kodwa manje wananzelela isimo sakhe seqiniso sokuthi wayeyisoni ngendlela ayengakaze azibone ngayo. {GC 122.2}IEP 122.2

Isifiso sakhe sokungabi lesono lesokuthi abelokuthula kuNkulunkulu sabangela ukuthi azimisele ukungena emsebenzini webandla leRoma. Lapha wanikwa umsebenzi oyangisayo wokuhamba ecela emizini yabantu. Wayesebangeni lempilo lapho wonke umuntu afuna khona ukuhlonitshwa lokuphakanyiswa, njalo umsebenzi lowu ayewenza wawuhlukumeza imizwa yakhe yenyama, kodwa wabekezela waqhubeka ewenza ngoba wayecabanga ukuthi kwakumfanele ngoba wayeyisoni. {GC 123.1}IEP 123.1

Sonke isikhathi ayesithola esokuphumula emsebenzini wakhe, wasichitha ebala iBhayibhili, ezincitsha ubuthongo njalo esebenzisa lesikhathi sakhe sokudla. Okwedlula konke ayekwenza wajabulela ukufunda ilizwi likaNkulunkulu. Wayethole iBhayibhili elalibotshelwe emdulini, wazimisela ukulifunda ngazo zonke izikhathi. Nxa umcabango wakhe wokuthi wayeyisoni wawulokhe ukhula, wazama ukuthola ukuthethelelwa njalo lokuthula ngemisebenzi yakhe. Wazama ukuphila impilo yokuzihlukumeza, leyokuzila ukudla, lokukhangela ubusuku bonke, ezitshaya ngoba ezama ukuqeda isono emzimbeni ayehluleke ukusiqeda ekusebenzeleni kwakhe ibandla. Wenza yonke imizamo lokuzinikela okwakungabangela ukuthi abemsulwa njalo ayenelise ukuma phambi kaNkulunkulu. Watsho amazwi alandelayo eminyakeni eyalandelayo: “Ngangiyisisebenzi sebandla esilungileyo njalo ngangilandela yonke imithetho yomsebenzi wami ngokuzimisela engingeke ngenelise ukukuchaza. Nxa ngabe kuyenzeka ukuthi umphathi webandla athole izulu ngemisebenzi yakhe yokuba ngumphathi, ngabe lami ngalithola...Ngabe ngaqhubeka okwedlula lokhu engasengikwenzile, ngangizacina ngisifa ngemizamo yami engangiyenza eyokufuna ukuba ngcwele.” — (Ibid, b. 2, ch.3). Ngenxa yemizamo leyi ebuhlungu, waswela amandla ngoba wayehlala esiwa, okwabangela ukuthi angasili ngokupheleleyo impilo yakhe yonke. Kodwa ngayo yonke imizamo yakhe umphefumulo wakhe awutholanga ukuthula. Ekucineni wayesefike ezingeni lokudela konke. {GC 123.2}IEP 123.2

Nxa kwasekubonakala kuLuther sengathi konke kwasekwehlule, uNkulunkulu wamlethela umngani njalo lomsizi. Wathola indoda eyayilungile okwakuthiwa nguStaupitz owamvulela ilizwi likaNkulunkulu wamtshela ukuthi asuse amehlo akhe kuye, ayekele lokuhlala ecabanga umphumela wokwephula umthetho kaNkulunkulu kodwa abhekise amehlo akhe, kuJesu Krestu, uMsindisi wakhe othethelela izono zakhe. “Kulokuthi uzihlukumeze ngenxa yezono zakho, zilahlele ezandlene zoMsindisi wakho. Thembela kuye, ebungcweleni bempilo yakhe, lasentengweni yegazi lakhe ekusifeleni kwakhe ...ulalele iNdodana kaNkulunkulu. Wakhetha ukuthatha isimo somuntu ukuba asivezele indlela uNkulunkulu asithanda ngayo. ‘Umthande yena owakuthanda kuqala.’”- (Ibid, b.2, ch.4). Sakhuluma lawa amazwi isithunywa somusa. Amazwi akhe enza umehluko omkhulu engqondweni kaLuther. Ngemva kokulwisana lenkolo yamanga, ekucineni wamukela iqiniso elaletha ukuthula emphefumulweni wakhe owawuhluphekile. {GC 123.3}IEP 123.3

ULuther wagcotshwa waba ngumpristi, wasebizelwa ukuthi abe ngumqeqetshi omkhulu esikolweni esiphezulu edolobheni laseWittenberg. Wathi efika kule indawo, wazinikela emsebenzini wokubala iBhayibhili elimini lwakuqala elalilotshwe ngalo. Waseqala ukufundisa lokhu okwakulotshwe eBhayibhilini, esebenzisa incwadi kaMahubo, lencwadi ezikhuluma ngempilo kaJesu, kanye lezincwadi zikaPawuli, wenza ukuthi abantu abanengi bazwisise iMibhalo. Umngane wakhe uStaupitz wamcela ukuthi asebenzise isipho sakhe sokutshumayela ilizwi likaNkulunkulu. ULuther waqala wahlehlela emuva ecabanga ukuthi wayengalungelanga umsebenzi wokuma endaweni kaKrestu emhlabeni. Walwisana lomzwangedwa okwesikhathi eside, ekucineni wamukela isicelo sabangane bakhe. Ngalesi isikhathi ukuzwisisa kwakhe iMibhalo kwasekujule kakhulu, njalo lomusa kaNkulunkulu wawuphezu kwakhe. Indlela ayefundisa ngokucaca ngayo iqiniso yenza ukuthi abantu bathinteke enhliziyweni zabo njalo bamukele ngenjabulo imfundiso yakhe. {GC 124.1}IEP 124.1

ULuther wayelokhu eyindodana eqotho yebandla leRoma njalo wayengakaze ecabange ukuthi lokhu kwakungaguquka. Ngomusa kaNkulunkulu wanikwa ithuba lokwethekelela idolobho laseRoma. Waqala uhambo lwakhe ehamba ngenyawo, ehamba ephumula emabandleni eyesendleleni yakhe. Nxa wayefika kwelinye ibandla elizweni laseItaly wamangaliswa yinotho lenhlakahle eyayikule indawo. Ngokusebenzisa inotho yeminikelo abaphathi bebandla kule indawo babephila impilo ephezulu kakhulu besidla njengamakhosi. Ngenhliziyo ebuhlungu uLuther waqathanisa impilo leyi, lempilo yakhe yokuzidela. Ingqondo yakhe yaqala ukudideka. {GC 124.2}IEP 124.2

Ekucineni wafinyelela idolobho leli elalihleli phezu kwentaba eziyisikhombisa. Ngenjabulo enkulu wazilahlela phansi, esithi: “Roma engcwele, ngiyakuhlonipha!”- (Ibid. B. 2, ch.6). Wangena edolobheni, wethekelela amabandla, walalela imfundiso zabapristi labaphathi bebandla, wenza yonke imikhuba okwakumele ayenze. Yonke indawo ayekhangela khona wafikelwa yikumangala lokwesaba. Wananzelela ukuthi ububi babukhona kubaphathi bebandla abakhulu labancane. Wezwa amazwi angalunganga okuhlekisa ephuma kubaphathi bebandla, wezwa efikelwa yikwesaba nxa wayesizwa inkulumo zabo ezingalunganga ngitsho enkozweni. Nxa wayezihlanganisa labaphathi bebandla wabona ububi ayengabucabangelanga. Yonke indawo ayesiya kuyo, kulokuthi athole ubungcwele wathola ububi. “Kakho onganakana, ububi lezono ezenziwa edolobheni laseRoma, kudingeka ukuthi umuntu azibonele njalo azizwele ukuthi akholwe. Kungakho kujwayelekile ukuthi kusetshenziswe amazwi athi, ‘Nxa kukhona igehena, umuzi weRoma wakhelwe phezu kwalo, kusemgodini lapho okwenziwa khona zonke izono.’” waloba uLuther. -(Ibid, b.2, ch.6). {GC 124.3}IEP 124.3

Ngesikhathi esifananayo upapa wayenike isithembiso sezibusiso kubo bonke abantu ababezakhwela ngamadolo ilele okwakuthiwa yikho lapho uJesu ahamba khona nxa wayesiyahlulelwa phambi kaPilathu, kwakukholelwa ukuthi kwakwenzeke isimanga ukuthi ilele leli lisuke eJerusalema liyetholakala selisedolobheni leRoma. ULuther laye wazimisela ukukhwela ngamadolo ngelinye ilanga, khonokho nje wezwa ilizwi likhwaza njengomdumo wezulu lisithi: “Olungileyo uzakuphila ngokukholwa.” (Roma 1:17). Wasukuma masinyane waphuma kule indawo egcwele ukwesaba lokuyangeka. Amazwi omugca lowu awazange aphume enhliziyweni yakhe. Kusukela lapha wananzelela sobala ukuthi kwakuyimfundiso yamanga ukuthi umuntu kwakumele akhangelele emisebenzini yakhe yenyama nxa wayefuna usindiso, njalo wabona indingeko yokukholelwa emnikelweni njalo lasempilweni kaKrestu eqotho eyiyo kuphela esisindisayo. Amehlo akhe, ayesevuliwe, njalo ayengasela kuvalwa futhi ukuthi abone amaphutha emfundiso yabopapa. Nxa wayefulathela umuzi waseRoma, wayesekhethe ngokufanayo ukususa inhliziyo yakhe emfundisweni yaseRoma, kusukela ngalesi isikhathi ukwehlukana kwaqhubeka kukhula, kwazekwayafika isikhathi lapho ayenza khona isinqumo sokwehlukana lebandla leRoma. {GC 125.1}IEP 125.1

Ekuphendukeni kwakhe elizweni lakibo, uLuther waphiwa isicoco esikhulu egatsheni lezenkolo kwezemfundo ephezulu. Manje wayeselethuba lokuzinikela ngokupheleleyo, okwedlula isikhathi esasedlule, ekufundeni iMibhalo ayeyithandile. Wayesethethe isifungo sokuthi wayezafunda njalo atshumayele ngokwethembeka ilizwi likaNkulunkulu, hatshi amazwi lemfundiso yabopapa, okwempilo yakhe yonke. Wayesetshintshile ekubeni yinceku yebandla leRoma kumbe umbalisi oqeqetshileyo, kodwa wayesezakwaziwa njengomtshumayeli weBhayibhili oqotho. Ubizo lwaselufikile olokuthi abengumalusi wezimvu zikaNkulunkulu ezazilambele njalo zomele iqiniso. Wafundisa ngamandla amakhulu abantu ukuthi amaKrestu kwakufanele amukele kuphela lokhu okuphuma eMbhalweni oNgcwele. Amazwi lawa atshaya kanye enzikini yamandla kapapa. Ngoba yiwo ayemumethe insika yeMvuselelo. {GC 125.2}IEP 125.2

ULuther wananzelela ingozi yokuphakamisa imfundiso yabantu okwedlula ilizwi likaNkulunkulu. Waqala ngokuveza ububi bemfundiso eyayisezikolweni eziphezulu njalo waphikisa imfundiso yokholo eyayenze ukuthi abantu babeyizigqili okweminyaka eminengi. Waveza ukuthi imfundiso lezi zaziyize njalo zaziyingozi, wakhomba amehlo abantu eqinisweni elalinikwe ngabafundi labaprofethi hatshi amanga ayefundiswa ngabaphathi bebandla. {GC 126.1}IEP 126.1

Amazwi akhe ayeligugu endlebeni zalabo ababemlalele. Babengakaze bezwe amazwi afana lalawa empilweni zabo. Amazwi entokozo ayebatshela ngoMsindisi olothando, lesiqiniseko sokuthethelelwa lokuthula ngegazi lakhe, abangela ukuthi inhliziyo zabo zibelethemba eliphakade. Edolobheni laseWittenberg ukukhanya kwasekuqalile njalo kwakuzakhula kufinyelele amazwe wonke emhlabeni njalo okwakuzakhula kuze kuyefika ekupheleni kwesikhathi. {GC 126.2}IEP 126.2

Kodwa ukukhanya lobunyama ngeke kuhlangane. Phakathi kweqiniso lamanga kulengxabano engelamkhawulo. Ukumela lokuphakamisa okunye kutsho ukunyathezela njalo lokuphika okunye. Umsindisi wethu uqobo lwakhe wathi: “Lingathi ngize ukuletha ukuthula emhlabeni: angizanga ukuletha ukuthula kodwa inkemba.” (Mathewu 10:34). ULuther laye watsho amazwi alandelayo nxa iMvuselelo yayiqala: “UNkulunkulu kangithungameli kuphela, uyangifuqela phambili. Uyangithwala angisephambili. Angisiyo nkosi yami. Ngiyafisa ukuphila phakathi kokuthula, kodwa ngijikelwa phakathi kwenngxabano lokuhlamuka.” (D’Aubigne, b.5, ch.2). Wayesezafakwa phakathi kwempikiswano. {GC 126.3}IEP 126.3

Ibandla leRoma laseliyenze umusa kaNkulunkulu waba yinto yokuthengiswa. Amatafula abantu abathengisayo (Mathewu 21:12) ayesebekiwe phakathi kwebandla njalo umoya wawugcwele amazwi alabo abathengayo labathengisayo. Ngaphansi kwemizamo yokwakha ibandla elabizwa ngokuthi yiSt Peter edolobheni laseRoma, ukuthethelelwa kwezono kwakuthengiselwa uzulu wonke ngaphansi kwemvumo kapapa. Ngentengo yokona kwabantu indlu kaNkulunkulu yayizakwakhiwa, insika yayo yayibekwe ngemali yesono! Kodwa amaqhinga ayesetshenziswe libandla leRoma ukuletha udumo kulo, aba yimbangela yokuwa kwalo. Isenzo lesi yiso esavusa izitha ezakhetha ukulwisana lombuso kapapa, ekucineni kwabangela ukuthi bathole uzibuse. {GC 127.1}IEP 127.1

Isisebenzi esafakwayo ukuthi sikhangele ukuthengiswa kwentethelelo yesono, ibizo laso kwakuthiwa nguTetzel, owayeyisigangi esaziwayo emphakathini ngemva kokwephula imithetho yelizwe lekaNkulunkulu, kodwa loba kwakunjalo waqhatshwa ukuthi abone ukuthi izifiso zikapapa zokunotha lokwengeza amandla akhe zazizagcwaliseka. Ngokuzimisela okukhulu, wakhuluma amanga esabekayo, endlebeni zabantu ababengalawo amandla okuqedisisa ububi besenzo lesi. Ngabe babelelizwi likaNkulunkulu ezandleni zabo, babengeke bakhohliswe ngale indlela. Kwakuyisizatho sokuthi abantu babengaphansi kwamandla kapapa, lokunothisa labo bonke ababesebenzisana laye, okwenza ukuthi iBhayibhili lifihlwe njalo lisuswe ezandleni zabantu. (See John C. L. Gieseler, A Compendium of Ecclesiastical History, per.4, sec.1, par.5). {GC 127.2}IEP 127.2

Nxa uTetzel wayengena edolobheni elithile, kwakulomuntu owayehamba phambi kwakhe ememeza esithi: “Umusa kaNkulunkulu lokababa ongcwele usemasangweni enu.” — (D’ Aubigne, b.3, ch.1). Abantu babehlangabeza umzenzisi lowu sengathi wayenguNkulunkulu uqobo lwakhe owayeyehle ezulwini weza kibo. Isiga sonke lesi sasiqhubekela ethempelini, uTetzel wayesima phambi kwebandla, etshela abantu ukuthi intethelelo leyi ayeyithengisa yayiyisipho esivela kuNkulunkulu. Wayefundisa ukuthi ngamandla ayesephepheni leli ayelithengisa, izono zonke zazithethelelwa kugoqela lalezo ezazingakenziwa njalo kwakungekho “indingeko yokuzivuma nxa sezenziwe.” (Ibid, b.3, ch.1). Okwedlula lokhu, wafundisa bonke ababelalele ukuthi amaphepha lawa awentethelelo ayelamandla wokuhlenga hatshi kuphela abaphilayo kodwa lalabo abafileyo, esithi kusukela esikhathini lapho imali eyayingena khona engcebethwini yakhe, umoya walowo owayethengelwe wawusuka egehena ungene ezulwini. (See K.R. Hagenbach, History of the Reformation, vol.1, p.96). {GC 127.3}IEP 127.3

Nxa uSimon Magus wayezame ukuthenga amandla abafundi wokwenza izimanga uPetro wamphendula wathi: “Isiliva sakho kasibhubhe kanye lawe, ngoba ucabange ukuthi isiphiwo sikaNkulunkulu singathengwa ngemali.” (Imisebenzi 8:20). Kodwa amazwi kaTetzel amukelwa zinkulungwane zabantu. Isiliva legolide kwagelezela ezambeni zebandla. Usindiso olwaluthengeka ngemali lwalutholakala lula kulalolo oludinga ukuvuma izono, lokukholwa, kanye lokuzimisela ngamandla okuphika njalo lokunqoba isono. {GC 128.1}IEP 128.1

Imfundiso yokuthengisa intethelelo yayiphikiswe ngabantu abanengi okwakugoqela izifundiswa labantu abalungileyo ebandleni laseRoma, njalo babebanengi abangazange bamukele imfundiso leyi eyayingavumelani lokucabanga kanye loMbhalo. Kakho loyedwa umphathi webandla owakhipha ilizwi elilodwa lokuphikisa, kodwa ingqondo zabantu zaseziqala ukungahlaliseki, njalo abanye babezibuza ukuthi kambe uNkulunkulu wayengeke avuse inceku eyayizahlambulula ibandla lakhe na? {GC 128.2}IEP 128.2

ULuther loba nje wayelokhu engaphansi kwebandla, wanengwa kakhulu yisenzo lesi esasiqaliswe ngupapa. Inengi lamalunga ebandla lakhe lalithengile amaphepha lawa entethelelo, njalo basebeqalile ukubuya kumfundisi wabo ukuzovuma izono zabo hatshi ngesizatho sokuthi babevume izono zabo, kodwa ngenxa yephepha leli ababelithengile. ULuther wala ukubatshela ukuthi izono zabo zazithethelelwa ngenxa yephepha leli kodwa wabaxwayisa ukuthi kuphela nxa babevuma njalo beguqula amanyathelo abo, nxa kwakungenjalo babezafela ezonweni zabo. Ngokudideka okukhulu inengi labo labuyela kuTetzel owayebathengisele amaphepha entethelelo bemazisa ukuthi umfundisi wabo wayeyalile ukwamukela amaphepha abo, abanengi babefuna ukuthi babiselwe imali zabo. UTetzel wagcwala intukuthelo enkulu. Wakhuluma inhlamba ezinkulu, wabasa umlilo endaweni evulekileyo, watshela abantu ukuthi wayephiwe amandla ngupapa wokutshisa bonke abantu ababephikisana lalokho ayekwenza.” (D’Aubigne, b.3, ch.4). {GC 128.3}IEP 128.3

ULuther waqala manje umsebenzi wakhe wokumela iqiniso ngesibindi. Ilizwi lakhe lezwakala liphuma ethempelini, linika izixwayiso eziqakatheleyo. Wabeka phambi kwabantu ububi besono, njalo wabafundisa ukuthi umuntu ngeke athole ukuthethelelwa kumbe abalekele impumela yesono ngemisebenzi yenyama. Kuphela ukuvuma izono phambi kaNkulunkulu lokukholwa kuKrestu uMsindisi owabethelwayo, yikho okungasindisa umuntu wonke. Umusa kaKrestu awuthengiswa, uyisipho esivela kuye. Wabachazela ngempilo yakhe lapho ayezame khona ukuthola usindiso ngemisebenzi yakhe yenyama, wachazela abalaleli bakhe ukuthi kwakungenxa yokususa amehlo akhe kuye njalo lokukholwa kuKrestu okwenza ukuthi athole ukuthula kanye lentokozo. {GC 129.1}IEP 129.1

Nxa uTetzel wayeqhubeka ngomsebenzi wakhe wokudukisa abantu, uLuther laye wazimisela ukwenza konke okwakusemandleni akhe ukuthi abantu bafundiswe ukuthi lokhu kwakungaveli kuNkulunkulu. Ithuba lavuleka kuye. Ibandla laseWittenberg, lalo lalilazo izithombe ezaziboniswa abantu ngezinye insuku ezikhethekileyo, njalo ukuthethelelwa kwezono kwakunikwa bonke ababeze ngalezi izikhathi ethempelini bezovuma izono zabo. Ngokunjalo abantu abanengi babesiza ethempelini ngamalanga lawa ayebekiwe. Elinye lamalanga lawa laliseduzane elalibizwa njengomthimba wabaNgcwele. Sekusele usuku olulodwa ukuthi lolusuku lufike, uLuther wabhala iphepha elalilemigca angamatshumi ayisitshiyagalo lunye lanhlanu, ayeveza ukuthi imfundiso leyi yayiphikisana lelizwi likaNkulunkulu walibethela emnyango. Wabhala lokuthi wayezimisele ukumela konke ayekubhalile ngosuku olulandelayo, nxa kwakuzabakhona ababezafisa ukuyiphikisa. {GC 129.2}IEP 129.2

Iphepha lakhe labonwa ngabantu abanengi kakhulu. Abanengi balifunda kanengi, besukela phezulu besiyaphansi njalo besukela phansi besiya phezulu. Kwaba lenjabulo enkulu edolobheni laseWittenburg kanye lasesikolweni esiphezulu. Ngemigca leyi eyayibethelwe nguLuther, kwabasobala ukuthi amandla okuthethelela izono lokwethesa isigwebo ayengazange aphiwa upapa loba wuphi umuntu. Konke lokhu okwakusenziwa ebandleni, kwakuyindlela yokwenza imali njalo kwakuyindlela uSathane ayedukisa ngayo bonke ababesamukela imfundiso leyi ngoba ngokukhipha imali izono zabo zazingathethelelwa ezulwini, okwakusitsho ukuthi abantu abanjalo babefela ezonweni zabo. Kwabonakala sobala ukuthi ivangeli likaKrestu yilokuphela igugu elikhulu ebandleni, njalo lokuthi umusa kaNkulunkulu ovezwe ngale indlela, njalo unikwa wonke umuntu ovuma izono zakhe ngokukholwa kuphela. {GC 130.1}IEP 130.1