25—Umthetho Kathixo Awunakuguqulwa

“Yavulwa itempile kaThixo emazulwini, yabonakala ityeya yomnqophiso wakhe etempileni yakhe.” IsiTyhilelo 11:19. Ityeya yomnqophiso ikwigumbi lesibini leNgcwele kaNgcwele. Kulungiselelo lomnquba wasemhlabeni, eyayingu“mzekelo nesithunzi sezinto zasemazulwini,” eli gumbi lalivulwa kuphela ngoMhla woCamagushelo ukuze kuhlanjululwe ingcwele. Ngoko ke, ukwaziswa kokuba itempile kaThixo yavulwa emazulwini yaza ityeya yomnqophiso waKhe yabonwa, kwalatha ekuvulweni kweyona ndawo ingcwele yasemazulwini ngowe-1844 xa uKristu wayengena apho ukuba enze umsebenzi wokugqibela wocamagushelo. Abo bathe ngokholo balandela uMbingeleli oMkhulu wabo xa engena kulungiselelo lwaKhe kweyona ndawo ingcwele, bayibona ityeya yomnqophiso waKhe. Njengoko babefundile ngomsebenzi wasengcweleni, bafikelela ngoku ekuluqondeni utshintsho kulungiselelo loMsindisi, baza babona ukuba ngoku wayesebenza phambi kwetyeya kaThixo, ebongoza ngegazi laKhe ngenxa yaboni.IE18 386.1

Ityeya ekumnquba wasemhlabeni yayinamacwecwe amabini amatye, ekwakubhalwe kuwo imiyalelo yomthetho kaThixo. Ityeya le yayisisiphatho samacwecwe omthetho, kwaye ubukho bale miyalelo ingcwele kwayinika ixabiso layo lobungcwele. Yakuba itempile kaThixo ivuliwe emazulwini, ityeya yomnqophiso yabonwa. Ngaphakathi kwingcwele kaNgcwele, kwingcwele esezulwini, umthetho wezulu ugcinwe apho ungcwele—umthetho owathethwa nguThixo ngokwaKhe phakathi kweendudumo waza wabhalwa ngowaKhe umnwe emacwecweni amatye.IE18 386.2

Umthetho kaThixo osengcweleni ezulwini ungomkhulu nowokuqala, ekubhalwe kuwo umyalelo emacwecweni amatye yaza yabhalwa kwiiNcwadi eziNtlanu zikaMoses ingumbhalo ongenampazamo. Abo bafikelela ekuyiqondeni ingongoma ebalulekileyo benziwa ukuba basibone isimo esingcwele nesingaguqukiyo somthetho ongcwele kaThixo. Babona, ngendlela abangazanga babona ngayo, igunya lamazwi oMsindisi, athi, “Koda kudlule izulu nehlabathi, kungakhanga kudlule nalinye iganyana nokuba lisuntswana emthethweni.” Mateyu 5:18. Umthetho kaThixo ukukutyhilwa kwentando kaThixo, umbhalo wesimilo saKhe, kuya kufuneka umi ngonaphakade, “ube lingqina elithembekileyo.” Akususwanga nowodwa umthetho; akukho nesuntwana eliguqulweyo. Uthi umdumisi: “Lingunaphakade Yehova, limi emazulwini ilizwi lakho.” “Zithembekile zonke iziyalezo zakhe. Zizimasekile nanini nangonaphakade.” Ndumiso 119:89; 111:7, 8.IE18 386.3

Embindini kanye wemiThetho eliShumi, kukho umthetho wesine, unjengoko wawuvakaliswe kwasekuqalekeni: “Khumbula umhla wesabatha, ukuba uwungcwalise. Wosebenza imihla emithandathu, uwenze wonke umsebenzi wakho; ke wona umhla wesixhenxe uyisabatha kaYehova uThixo wakho. Uze ungenzi namnye umsebenzi nawo, wena, nonyana wakho, nentombi yakho, nesicaka sakho, nesicakakazi sakho, nezinto ezizitho zine, nowasemzini osemasangweni akho: kuba ngemihla emithandathu uYehova wenza izulu nomhlaba, nolwandle, neento zonke ezikwezo zinto, waphumla ngomhla wesixhenxe; ngenxa yoko uYehova wawusikelela umhla wesabatha, wawungcwalisa.” Eksodus 20:8-11. IE18 387.1

UMoya kaThixo wachanana neentliziyo zabo bafundi beLizwi laKhe. Ingqondo yafika kubo yokuba bawugqitha lo mthetho bengazi baza abayikhathalela imini yoMdali yophumlo. Baqala ukuzihlola izizathu zokugcina umhla wokuqala weveki endaweni yomhla uThixo awawungcwalisayo. Abakwazanga kufumana nto ibonisayo eziBhalweni ukuba umthetho wesine wachithwa okanye ukuba iSabatha yaguqulwa; intsikelelo eyaqala ngokungcwalisa umhla wesixhenxe ayizanga yasuswa. Babekufuna ngokunyanisekileyo ukuyazi nokuyenza intando kaThixo; ngoku, bathi bakuzibona bengabagqithi bomthetho waKhe, iintliziyo zabo zazaliswa yintlungu, baza babonakalalisa ukunyaniseka kuThixo ngokuyigcina ngcwele iSabatha yaKhe.IE18 387.2

Maninzi enyanisekile amalinge awenziwayo ukubhukuqa ukholo lwabo. Akakho owayengaboni ukuba ingcwele yasemhlabeni yayingumfanekiso okanye umzekelo weyasezulwini, umthetho owawufakwe etyeyeni yasemhlabeni wawufana, ungumceph’ ucandiwe nomthetho osetyeyeni esezulwini; nokuba, ukwamkelwa kwenyaniso engengcwele yasezulwini kwakubandakanya ukuvuma ibango lomthetho kaThixo nokunyanzeleka kweSabatha yomthetho wesine. Yayilapha imfihlo yenkcaso ekrakra nezimiseleyo ekuchazweni kweziBhalo ngokuvumelana okwaveza ulungiselelo lukaKristu kwingcwele yasezulwini. Abantu bazama ukuluvala ucango awaluvulayo uThixo, baze bavule ucango awaluvalayo. Phofu ke, “Lowo uvulayo kungavali namnye, avale kungavuli namnye,” wathi: “Yabona, ndimise phambi kwakho ucango oluvulekileyo, akukho namnye unako ukuluvala.” IsiTyhilelo 3:7, 8. UKristu wayeluvulile ucango, okanye ulungiselelo, lweyona ndawo ingcwele, ukukhanya kwakubonakala kumnyango ovulekileyo wengcwele yasezulwini, waza umthetho wesine waboniswa ungoyinxalenye yomthetho ovalelwe apho; oko kwakumiselwe nguThixo, kungekho mntu ungakwazi ukukususa.IE18 387.3

Abo bakwamkeleyo ukukhanya okungokuthethelela kukaKristu kunye nokuba ngunaphakade komthetho kaThixo bafumana ukuba ezi yayiziinyaniso ezinikiweyo kwisiTyhilelo 14. Izigidimi zesi sahluko zenziwe ngesilumkiso esintlantlu-ntathu. (Khangela kwiSIHLOMELO), ekufuneka zilungiselele abemi basemhlabeni ukufika kwesibini kweNkosi. Isibhengezo esithi, “Lifikile ixa lokugweba kwaKhe,” salatha ekupheleni komsebenziwolungiselelolukaKristuojongenenokusindiswakwabantu.Kwazisa ngenyaniso ekufuneka ivakalisiwe kude kuphele ukuthethelela koMsindisi aze abuyele eMhlabeni ukuza kuthabathela abantu baKhe kuYe. Umsebenzi womgwebo owaqala ngowe-1844 kufuneka uqhube ade abe amatyala onke agqityiwe, awabaphilileyo nawabafileyo; kungoko uya kuqhuba kude kuvalwe inceba ngasebantwini. Ukuze abantu bakulungele ukuma emgwebeni, isigidimi siza kubo sisithi, “Moyikeni uThixo nimzukise, . . . nimnqule lowo wenza izulu, nomhlaba, nolwandle, nemithombo yamanzi.” Isiphumo sokwamkelwa kwezi zigidimi sinikiwe elizwini: “Nalu unyamezelo lwabangcwele; naba abayigcinayo imithetho kaThixo nokukholwa kuYesu.” Ukuze kulungelwe umgwebo, kuyafuneka ukuba abantu bawugcine umthetho kaThixo. Lo mthetho uza kuba ngumgangatho wesimilo ekugwebeni. Umpostile uPawulos uthi: “[Kuba] . . . bonke abonileyo benomthetho, baya kugwetywa ngomthetho, . . . mhlenikweni uThixo aya kuzigweba izinto ezifihlakeleyo zabantu . . . ngoYesu Kristu.” Abuye athi, “Ngabenzi bawo umthetho abaya kugwetyelwa.” Roma 2:12-16. Ukholo luyafuneka ukuze kubekho ukugcinwa komthetho kaThixo; kuba “lungekhoukholo, akunakubakho ukumkholisa kakuhle.” “Konke ke okungekokwaselukholweni kusisono.” Hebhere 11:6; Roma 14:23. IE18 388.1

Ngengelosi yokuqala, abantu babizelwa ukuba “[bamoyike] uThixo bamzukise” baze bamnqule njengoMdali wezulu nomhlaba. Ukuze bakwazi ukwenza oku, kufuneka bathobele umthetho. Ithi indoda esisilumko: “Yoyika uThixo, ugcine imithetho yakhe; ngokuba indawo leyo yimfanelo yoluntu lonke.” Intshumayeli 12:13. Ngaphandle kokuthobela imithetho yaKhe, akukho ukunqula okuya kuze kumkholise uThixo. “Kuba ukumthanda uThixo kuko ukuthi, siyigcine imithetho yakhe.” “Osusa indlebe yakhe ekusiphulaphuleni isiyalo, kwanomthandazo wakhe ulisikizi.” 1 Yohane 5:3; IMizekeliso 28:9.IE18 388.2

Uxanduva lokunqula uThixo lwakhelwe phezu kwenyaniso yokuba unguMdali, nokuba zonke ezinye izidalwa zixhomekeke kuYe ngobukho bazo. Kuyo yonke ke indawo eBhayibhileni apho kubekwa ibango laKhe lokunikwa imbeko nokunqulwa,ngaphezukoothixobabahedeni, kunikwa ubungqina bamandla aKhe okudala. “Ngokuba bonke oothixo bezizwe abanto zanto; uYehova yena wenza amazulu.” INdumiso 96:5. “Niya kundifanisa nabani na, ndilingane naye? Utsho Oyingcwele. Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu, nibone: ngubani na owadala ezi zinto.” “Utsho uYehova, uMdali wezulu; nguYe uThixo, uMenzi wehlabathi uMseki walo, . . . NdinguYehova, akukho wumbi.” Isaya 40:25, 26; 45:18. Uthi umdumisi: “Yazini ukuba uYehova nguThixo yena; wasenza yena, asisithi.” “Yizani, masiqubude, siguqe, sithobe phambi koYehova umenzi wethu.” Ndumiso 100:3; 95:6. Izidalwa ezingcwele ezinqula uThixo ezulwini zixela isizathu sokuba zinike imbeko efanele Yena: “Ufanele, Nkosi, ukwamkela uzuko, nembeko, namandla; ngokuba inguwe owadala zonke izinto.” IsiTyhilelo 4:11. IE18 389.1

KwisiTyhilelo 14, abantu babizelwa kunqulo loMdali; saye isiprofeto siveza udidi oluthe, ngokusisiphumo sesigidimi esintlantlu-ntathu, lwayigcina imithetho kaThixo. Omnye wale mithetho walatha ngqo kuThixo njengoMdali. Umthetho wesine uthi: “Wona umhla wesixhenxe uyisabatha kaYehova uThixo wakho: . . . kuba ngemihla emithandathu uYehova wenza izulu, nomhlaba, nolwandle, neento zonke ezikwezo zinto, waphumla ngomhla wesixhenxe; ngenxa yoko uYehova wawusikelela umhla wesabatha, wawungcwalisa.” Eksodus 20:10, 11. Ngokubhekiselele kwiSabatha, uYehova uqhubeka athi, “[ingu]mqondiso, . . . ukuze nazi ukuba ndinguYehova uThixo wenu.” Hezekile 20:20. Sinikiwe ke nesizathu, esithi: “Kuba imihla emithandathu uYehova wenza izulu nomhlaba, waphumla ngomhla wesixhenxe, waphefumla.” Eksodus 31:17.IE18 389.2

“Ukubaluleka kweSabatha njengesikhumbuzo sendalo sesokuba isoloko isigcine sikhona njalo isizathu sokuba unqulo lumfanele uThixo”—kuba unguMdali, kwaye thina sizizidalwa zaKhe. “ISabatha ke ngoko, izinze kanye kwisiseko sonqulo olungcwele, kuba ifundisa le nyaniso inkulu ngeyona ndlela inika umdla, kwaye asikho esinye isimisoesikwenzayo oku. Umhlaba wenene wonqulo olungcwele, kungelulo nje olwangosuku lwesixhenxe kuphela, kodwa walo lonke unqulo, ufumaneka kumahluko phakathi koMdali nezidalwa zaKhe. Le nyaniso inkulu ayisokuze iphele, kwaye akufuneki ize ilityalwe.”—J. N. Andrews, History of the Sabbath, chapter 27. Yayikukufuna ukugcina le nyaniso ihlale ihleli ezingqondweni zabantu, okwenza ukuba uThixo amisele iSabatha e-Eden; kanti ke lo gama isemi inyaniso yokuba unguMdali wethu isisizathu sokuba simnqule, ngokunjalo iya kuqhuba iSabatha ingumqondiso wayo nesikhumbuzo sayo, inyaniso leyo. Ukuba iSabatha yayigcinwe kuyo yonke indalo (iyunivesi) iingcinga zomntu nothando lwakhe zaziya kukhokelelwa kuMdali njengekufuneka enikwe imbeko nonqulo, kwaye kwakungasayi kubakho onqula izithixo, ongakholelwayo kubukho bukaThixo, okanye umntu ongakholwayo. Ukugcinwa kweSabatha ngumqondiso wokunyaniseka kuThixo oyinyaniso, “Lowo wenza izulu, nomhlaba, nolwandle, nemithombo yamanzi.” Kuyenzeka ke ukuba isigidimi esiyalela abantu ukuba banqule uThixo bagcine imithetho yaKhe siya kuthi ngendlela eyodwa sifune ukuba bawugcine umthetho wesine. IE18 389.3

Ngokungafaniyo nakwabo bagcina imithetho kaThixo nabanokholo lukaYesu, ingelosi yesithathu yalatha kolunye udidi, oluthi, ngenxa yeziphoso zalo, lunikwe isilumkiso esinendili nesoyikekayo, esithi: “Ukuba umntu uyalinqula irhamncwa nomfanekiselo walo, amkele uphawu lwalo ebunzini lakhe, nokuba kusesandleni sakhe: yena wosela iwayini yomsindo kaThixo.” IsiTyhilelo 14:9, 10. Inkcazo efanelekileyo yemifuziselo esetyenzisiweyo iyafuneka ukuze siqondwe esi sigidimi. Yintoni emelwe lirhamncwa, umfanekiselo, nophawu? IE18 390.1

Umgca olandelwa sisiprofeto apho le mifuziselo ifumaneka khona uqala kwisiTyhilelo 12, ngenamba eyazama ukutshabalalisa uKristu ekuzalweni kwaKhe. Inamba kuthiwa nguSathana (IsiTy. 12:9); nguye owayesebenza kuHerode ukuba abulale uMsindisi. Umthunywa oyintloko kaSathana ekulweni noKristu nabantu baKhe ngenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha lobuKristu yayibubukumkani baseRoma, apho ubuhedeni babuyinkolo egqubayo. Ngoku ke, nangona inamba kakhulu imele uSathana, ngeyona ndlela iyiyo eyeyesibini, ingumfuziselo weRoma yobuhedeni.IE18 390.2

Kwisahluko 13 (iindima 1-10) kuchazwe elinye irhamncwa, “lifana nengwe [ihlosi],” ethe inamba yalinika “amandla ayo, netrone yayo, negunya elikhulu.” Lo mfuziselo, ngokukholwa kwamaProtrestanti amaninzi, umele ubupopi, obalandelayo ukuba bube semandleni nasesihlalweni negunya elalibanjwe bubukumkani beRoma yakudala. Ngerhamncwa elifana nehlosi kuthiwa: “Lanikwa umlomo othetha izinto ezinkulu, nezinyeliso. . . . Lawuvulela umlomo walo ekumnyeliseni uThixo, ukuba lilinyelise igama lakhe, nomnquba wakhe, nabo bahleli emazulwini. Lanikwa igunya lokulwa nabangcwele, liboyise; lanikwa igunya kuzo zonke izizwe, neelwimi, neentlanga.” Esi siprofeto esiphantse ukufana twatse nenkcazo yophondo oluncinane lukaDaniyeli 7, salatha kubupopi ngokungathandabuzekiyo. IE18 390.3

“Lanikwa igunya lokulwa iinyanga ezimashumi mane anesibini.” Uthi umprofeti, “Ndabona enye yazo iintloko zalo, ingathi ixatyelwe yafa.” Uphinda athi: “Ukuba ubani uhlanganisela abanye ekuthinjweni, naye uya kusiwa ekuthinjweni; ukuba ubani ubulala ngekrele, umelwe kukubulawa naye ngekrele.” Iinyanga ezingamashumi amane anesibini akwa“lixesha, amaxesha, nesiqingatha sexesha, iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha, okanye iintsuku ezili-1260 zikaDaniyeli 7—ixesha elathi ngalo igunya lobupopi lacinezela abantu bakaThixo. Eli xesha, njengoko lixeliwe kwizahluko ezingaphambili, laqala ngokuba ubupopi bube semandleni ngowe-A.D. 538, laya kuphela ngowe-1798. Ngelo xesha uPopi wabanjwa ngumkhosi waseFrance, amandla obupopi afumana inxeba elibanga ukufa, kwaba kuyazaliseka okwakuxelwe kwangaphambili, “Ukuba ubani uhlanganisela abanye ekuthinjweni, naye uya kusiwa ekuthinjweni.”IE18 391.1

Kwesi sigaba kuvezwa omnye umfuziselo. Uthi umprofeti: “Ndabona elinye irhamncwa linyuka liphuma emhlabeni; laye lineempondo ezimbini zifana nezemvana.” Indima 11. Kokubini, inkangeleko yeli rhamncwa nendlela elivela ngayo, kubonisa ukuba isizwe elisimeleyo sifana nezo beziveziwe kwimifuziselo engaphambi kwalo. Izikumkani ezikhulu ezilawule umhlabazazivezwengumprofetiuDaniyeli njengamarhamncwa adla inyama, awayenyuka xa “imimoya yomine yasezulwini, ityhobozela kulwandle olukhulu.” Daniyeli 7:2. KwisiTyhilelo 17 ingelosi yachaza ukuba amanzi “ngabantu, nezihlwele, neentlanga neelwimi.” IsiTyhilelo 17:15. Imimoya ngumfuziselo wemfazwe. Imimoya emine yezulu ilwa kulwandle olumele imiboniso eyoyikekayo yokoyisa nokuvukela ezithi izikumkani zizuze ngako igunya.IE18 391.2

Lona irhamncwa elineempondo ezifana nezemvana labonwa “liphuma emhlabeni” Endaweni yokoyisa amanye amagunya ukuze lizimise, isizwe esimelwe lilo siya kunyuka kummandla obungamiwanga ngaphambili size siye sikhula kancinane nangoxolo. Besingenako, ke ngoko, ukukhula phakathi kwengxinano zeliZwe eliDala—ulwandle oluxubayeleyo, “abantu, nezihlwele, neentlanga, neelwimi.” Kufuneka likhangelwe kwizwekazi eliseNtshona.IE18 391.3

Sesiphi isizwe seliZwe eliTsha esathi ngowe-1728 sanyuka emandleni, sathembisa ukuba namandla nobukhulu, satsala ingqondo yehlabathi? Ukusetyenziswa kwalo mfuziselo akufuni ukuthandabuzwa. Isizwe sinye, kwaye sinye esifikelelayo kwimiqathango yesi siprofeto; yalatha ngokungathandabuzekiyo kwiMelika Emanyeneyo [iU.S.A.]. Iphindwe kaninzi, phantse ngamazwi amanye, ingcamango yombhali esetyenziswe ngokungaqondi yimbongi nombhali wembali ekuchazeni ukunyuka nokuhla kwesi sizwe. Irhamncwa labonwa “linyuka liphuma emhlabeni;” kwaye, ngokwabaguquli bentetho, igama eliguqulwe ngokuthi “linyuka” libonisa “ukukhula okanye ukuntshula njengesityalo.” Njengokuba ke sibonile, isizwe kufuneka siphume kwindawo engummandla obungamiwanga ngaphambili. Umbhali otshatsheleyo wakwiMelika eManyeneyo, uthetha nge“mfihlakalo yokuphuma kwaso kwindawo engenanto,” aze athi: “Njengembewu ezolileyo, sakhula saba bubukumkani.”—G. A. Townsend, The New World Compared With the Old, page 462. Iphepha laseYurophu lowe-1850 lathetha ngeMelika eManyeneyo njengobukumkani obumangalisayo, “obabuvela,” baza bathi, “phakathi kwenzolo yomhlaba, bongeza igunya nokupha kamakwabo imihla ngemihla.”-- The Dublin Nation. UEdward Everett, kwintetho yakhe engabakhi ababengaBafuduki besi sizwe, wathi: “Ingaba babefuna indawo esecaleni, engenankathazo ngokusithela kwayo, nekhuselekileyo kuba ikude, apho ibandla elincinane likaLeyden laliya kuxhamla inkululeko yesazela khona? Khangela imimandla enamandla abathe kuyo, ngokuhlasela okunoxolo, . . . baphakamisa ibhanile yomnqamlezo!” --Intetho eyenziwa ePlymouth, Massachusetts, Deis. 22, 1824, iph. 11.IE18 392.1

“Laye lineempondo ezimbini zifana nezemvana.” Iimpondo ezifana nezemvana zibonisa ubutsha, ubumsulwa, nokululama, okuhambelana kakuhle nento eyiyo iMelika eManyeneyo xa iziswa kwisiprofeto njenge“vela” ngowe-1798. Phakathi kweembacu zamaKristu ezabalekela kuqala eMelika zafuna indawo yokhuseleko kwingcinezelo yokukhosi nokungabi nakunyamezeleka kobubingeleli, kwakukho abaninzi abazimisela ukumisa uburhulumente phezu kwesiseko esibanzi solawulo nenkolo ezikhululekileyo. Iimbono zabo zakhelwa kwi-IsiBhengezo seNkululeko [Declaration of Independence], esiqulathe inyaniso enkulu yokuba “bonke abantu badalwa balingana” nesiphethe ilungelo elingenakususwa “kubomi, kwinkululeko, nokusebenzela ukonwaba.” UMgaqo ubaqinisekisa abantu ngelungelo lokuzilawula, ubanika abameli abanyuliweyo ngokukhethwa ngabantu ukuba bayile imithetho baze balawule ngayo. Inkululeko yenkolo yokunqula nayo yanikwa, wonke umntu evunyelwe ukuba anqule uThixo ngokokuyalelwa sisazela sakhe. Ulawulo lwezwe nobuProtestanti baba sisiseko semithetho-siseko yesizwe. Le mithetho siseko iyimfihlakalo yegunya nempumelelo yaso. Abacinezelweyo nabaxinzelelwe phantsi kuyo yonke imbali yobuKristu baze kulo mhlaba benomdla nethemba. Izigidi zifikile kunxweme lwesi sizwe, yaza iMelika eManyeneyo yakhula yafikelela kweyona ndawo iphezulu kwizizwe ezizezona zinamandla emhlabeni. IE18 392.2

Lona irhamncwa elineempondo ezifana nezemvana “laye lithetha njengenamba. Lenza lonke igunya lelokuqala irhamncwa, elalingaphambi kwalo; lenza umhlaba, nabo bawumiyo, ukuba balinqule irhamncwa lokuqala, elaphiliswayo inxeba lalo elibangaukufa; . . .lisithi kwabo bemiyophezukomhlaba,mabalenzele umfanekiselo irhamncwa, elibe linenxeba lalo ikrele, laphila.” IsiTyhilelo 13:11-14. IE18 393.1

Iimpondo ezifana nezemvana kunye nelizwi lenamba lomfuziselo zizinto ezalatha ekwahlukaneni okukhulu phakathi koko kuthiwa kuyenziwa kunye noko kwenziwa sisizwe esimelweyo. “Ukuthetha” kwesizwe sisenzo sokulawula kunye namagunya okugweba kwaso. Ngesenzo esinjalo, liya kunika ubuxoki kuloo mithetho-siseko yokukhululeka noxolo eliyibekileyo ukuba ibe sisiseko somthetho waso. Ukuxelwa kwangaphambili kokuba siya kuthetha “njengenamba” size sisebenzise “lonke igunya lelokuqala irhamncwa” kuyazisa kwangaphambili indlela yokukhula komoya wokungabi nako ukunyamezela kwakunye nokutshutshisa okwakubonakalaliswa zizizwe ezimelwe yinamba kunye nerhamncwa elifana nehlosi. Intetho yokuba irhamncwa elineempondo ezimbini “lenza umhlaba, nabo bawumiyo, ukuba balinqule irhamncwa lokuqala” ibonisa ukuba igunya lesi sizwe liza kusetyenziswa ekunyanzeliseni ukugcinwa okuthile okuza kuba kusisenzo sokunika intlonipho nembeko kubupopi. IE18 393.2

Isenzo esinjalo siza kuba sichasene ngokutsolileyo nemithetho-siseko yobu burhulumente, nengqondo yezimiso zabo ezikhululekileyo, kwizifungo ezitsolileyo nezinendili zeziPhakamiso Zokuzilawula) (Declaration of Independence), kunye noMgaqo [uMthetho olawula isizwe]. Abaseki besizwe, ngobulumko, bazama ukukhusela ukusetyenziswa kwegunya lolawulo lwehlabathi endaweni yebandla, kwaneziphumo zako eziqinisekileyo—ukungabikho kokunyamezela kwakunye nentshutshiso. UMgaqo uthi “iQumrhu [lolawulo] aliyi kwenza mthetho ngokubhekiselele ekusekweni kwenkolo, okanye owalela ukwenziwa ngokukhululekileyo kwayo inkolo,” nokuba “akukho luvavanyo lwayame enkolweni oluya kuze lufuneke njengolwenza ubani afaneleke ukuba kwisikhundla sokuphatha phantsi kweMbumba Yezizwana ZeMelika.” Kuya kuba kuphela ngokuchaswa ngokuphandle kwale mithetho-siseko ekunokuthi nakuphi ukugcinwa kwenkolo kunyanzeliswe ligunya lolawulo lwabantu. Kona ukungahambi ngokungqalileyo kwesenzo esinjalo akungaphezulu koko kumelwe kuko kulo mfuziselo. Lirhamncwa elineempomdo ezifana nezemvana—ekuzibizeni ngokuba linyulu, linobulali, laye lingenangozi—kodwa lithetha ngokwenamba.IE18 393.3

[Eli rhamncwalithetha]“lisithikwabobemiyophezukomhlaba, mabalenzele umfanekiselo irhamncwa.” Ngokucacileyo apha kunikwa uhlobo lolawulo apho igunya lokuwisa umthetho lilele ebantwini, into ecace kakhulu ukubonakalalisa ukuba iMbumba Yezizwana ZeMelika yiyo isizwe ekuthethwa ngaso esiprofetweni. IE18 394.1

Uyintoni ke ngoko “umfanekiselo werhamncwa”? kwaye uza kwenziwa njani? Umfanekiselo wenziwa lirhamncwa elimpondo zimbini, kwaye ngumfanekiselo walo irhamncwa. Ukwabizwa ngokuba ngumfanekiselo walo irhamncwa. Ukufunda, ke ngoko, ukuba umfanekiselo unjani nokuba uza kwenziwa njani, kufuneka sifunde iimpawu zerhamncwa ngokwalo—ubupopi.IE18 394.2

Lathi ibandla lasemhlabeni lakonakaliswa kukusuka kubulula beendaba ezilungileyo laza lamkela iinkonzo namasiko obuhedeni, lalahlekwa nguMoya namandla kaThixo; laza lathi, ukuze likwazi ukulawula izazela zabantu, lafuna inkxaso kwigunya lelizwe. Isiphumo saba bubupopi, ibandla elalawula igunya lesizwe lalisebenzisa ukufezekisa iimfuno zalo, ngakumbi ekohlwayeni “ukreqo.” Ukuze ikwazi iMbumba Yezizwana ZeMelika ukwenza umfanekiselo werhamncwa, igunya lenkolo kufuneka liluphathe ngqongqo ululawulo lwabantu ukuze igunya lesizwe libe nokusetyenziswa libandla ukufeza iinjongo zalo. IE18 394.3

Ngalo lonke ixesha elithe ibandla lazuza igunya lehlabathi, lilisebenzise ekohlwayeni ukushiywa kweemfundiso zalo. Amabandla amaProtestanti awalandela emanyathelweni eRoma ngokuzimanya namagunya ehlabathi aya abonakalalisa umnqweno ofanayo ukubeka imiqathango kwinkululeko yesazela. Umzekelo woku unikiwe kwintshutshiso eqhube ixesha elide, kuliwa abo bazikhwebulayo kwibandla laseTshetshi (Church of England). Ngexesha leenkulungwane ye-16 neye-17, amawaka abafundisi abangavumiyo ukuhambelana nemfundiso banyanzeleka ukuba babaleke bawashiye amabandla abo, baza abaninzi, abafundisi namarhamente, kwafuneka bahlawule iimali, bavalelwe ezintolongweni, bathuthunjiswe, okanye babe ngabafelukholo.IE18 394.4

Yayilukreqo olwakhokelela ibandla lokuqala ukuba lifune uncedo lwabaphathi bomhlaba, kwaza oku kwavula indlela yokuhluma kobupopi—irhamncwa. Uthi uPawulos: “[Kuya kufika] ulahlo kuqala, atyhileke umntu wesono.” 2 Tesalonika 2:3. Ngoko ke, ukreqo ebandleni luya kulungiselela indlela umfanekiselo werhamncwa.IE18 395.1

IBhayibhile iyaxela ukuba, phambi kokufika kweNkosi, kuya kubakho imeko yokuhla enkolweni efana naleyo yayikho kwiinkulungwane zokuqala. “Ngemihla yokugqibela kuya kufika amaxesha anomngcipheko. Kuba abantu baya kuba ngabazithandayo, abathandi bemali, abaqhankqalazi, abakratshi, abanyelisi, abangeva bazali, abangabuleliyo, abangengcwele, abangenabubele, abangenatarhu, abatyholi, abangenakuzeyisa, izibhoja, abangenakuthanda kulunga, abancethezi, izityhuthutyhuthu, abathiwe lwale likratshi, abathandi beziyolo kunokuba bathande uThixo; benokumila kokuhlonela uThixo, ukanti bayawakhanyela amandla ako.” 2 Timoti 3:1-5. “Ke kaloku uMoya uthi ngokucacileyo inxenye iya kumka elukholweni ngamaxesha asemva, inyamekele oomoya abalahlekisayo, neemfundiso zeedemon.” 1 Timoti 4:1. USathana uya kusebenza ngawo “[onke amandla], nemiqondiso, nezimanga zobuxoki.” Abo “[ngakwamkelanga ukuyithanda inyaniso, ukuze basindiswe,” baya kuyekelwa ukuba bamkele “ulahlekiso olusebenza ngamandla, ukuze bakholwe bubuxoki.” 2 Tesalonika 2:9-11. Xa kuthe kwafikelelwa kule meko ekungahlonelini uThixo, kuya kubakho iziphumo ezifana nezo zabakho ngeenkulungwane zokuqala. IE18 395.2

Umsantsa omkhulu phakathi kwenkolo yamabandla amaProtestanti ubonwa ngabaninzi njengento ebonakalalisa ukuba awukho umzamo onokwenza ukuba kubekho ubunye okanye ukufana [phakathi kwawo]. Noko kunjalo, kusele kuyiminyaka, kumabandla enkolo yobuProtestanti, kukho umoya onamandla nokhulayo ohambelana nobunye obakhelwe phezu kweengongoma zemfundiso efanayo. Ukuze kubekho ubunye, ukubonisana ngeengongoma ekungabonwa ngasonye kuzo—nokuba zingaba zibaluleke kangakanani ngokweBhayibhile—kuza kufuneka zibekelwe bucala. IE18 395.3

UCharles Beecher, kwintshumayelo yakhe yowe-1846, wavakalisa ukuba, isifundisi “samabandla amaProtestanti ame ngovangelo asanelanga nje ukuma phantsi koxinzelelo olukhulu loloyiko lomntu kuphela, kodwa siphila, sishukuma, siphefumla phantsi kwemeko yezinto ezonakele kakhulu, nezithi, ngalo lonke ixesha,zitsalele kwizinto eziphantsi zendalo yazo ezithi ziyithulise inyaniso, kuthotywe amadolo kwigunya lokreqo. Ingaba zazingenje kakade izinto eRoma? Ingaba asiphili kwakhona ubomi bayo iRoma? Yintoni esiyibonayo phaya phambili? Enye intlanganiso enkulu! Intlanganiso yomhlaba wonke! Ubumbano lwabovangelo, nenkolo yezwe lonke!”--Sermon on “The Bible a Sufficient Creed,” delivered at Fort Wayne, Indiana, Feb. 22, 1846. Xa oku kuthe kwenzeka, kwimizamo yokuzuza ubunye obupheleleyo, kuya kuba kusele inyathelo elinye kuphela, ukubhenela ekunyanzeliseni. IE18 395.4

Xa amabandla aphambili eMbumba Yezizwana ZeMelika, ehlangana, evumelana kwiingongoma zemfundiso, aze abe nempembelelo esizweni ukuba sinyanzelise imithetho yawo sixhase izimiso zawo, ngelo xesha, iMelika yobuProtestanti iya kuba yenze umfanekiselo wolawulo lweRoma. Ngoko ke, kuya kuqiniseka ukohlwaywa ngokomthetho kwabaphuma ecaleni. IE18 396.1

Irhamncwa elineempondo ezimbini “lenza [liyalela] bonke, abancinane nabakhulu, abazizityebi, nabangamahlwempu, abakhululekileyo nabangamakhoboka, ukuba baphawulwe lilo esandleni sabo sokunene, nokuba kusemabunzini abo; nokuze kungabikho mntu unako ukuthenga nokuthengisa, ingenguye lowo unophawu, nokuba ligama lerhamncwa, nokuba linani legama lalo.” IsiTyhilelo 13:16, 17. Isilumkiso sengelosi yesithathu sithi: “Ukuba umntu uyalinqula irhamncwa nomfanekiselo walo, amkele uphawu lwalo ebunzini lakhe, nokuba kusesandleni sakhe: yena wosela iwayini yomsindo kaThixo.” “Irhamncwa” elikhankanywe kule ndawo, elunqulo lwalo lunyanzeliswa lirhamncwa elineempondo ezimbini, lelokuqala, okanye lirhamncwa elifana nehlosi lesiTyhilelo 13—ubupopi. “Umfanekiselo werhamncwa” umele uhlobo lobuProtestanti oluya kuthi luphuhliswe xa amabandla obuProstestanti eya kufuna uncedo lwegunya lolawulo ukunyanzelisa iimfundiso zawo. “Uphawu lwerhamncwa” kusafuneka ukuba luchazwe.IE18 396.2

Emva kwesilumkiso ngasekunqulweni kwerhamncwa nomfanekiselo walo, isiprofeto sithi: “Naba abayigcinayo imithetho kaThixo nokukholwa kuYesu.” Kususela ukuba abo bagcina umthetho kaThixo bethelekiswa nabo banqula irhamncwa nomfanekiselo walobaze bamkele uphawu [446] lwalo, kuyabonakala ukuba, kwelinye icala, ukugcina umthetho kaThixo, nokuwaphula kwelinye, kuya kwenza umahluko phakathi kwabanquli bakaThixo nabanquli berhamncwa.IE18 396.3

Iimpawu ezizodwa zerhamncwa, ngokunjalo nezomfanekiselo walo, kukwaphula imithetho kaThixo. Uthi uDaniyeli, xa ethetha ngophondo oluncinane, ubupopi: “acamange ngokuwenza wambi amathuba nomthetho.” Daniyeli 7:25. UPawulos waliveza eli gunya linye ngokuthi “ngumntu wesono,” owayeza kuziphakamisa ngaphezu kukaThixo. Esinye isiprofeto sigqibezela okanye songeza esinye. Kuphela ngokuguqula umthetho kaThixo obunokuthi ubupopi buziphakamise ngaphezu kukaThixo; kwaye, wonke onokuthi eqonda awugcine umthetho ulolo hlobo uguqulwe walulo uza kuba unika intlonipho enkulu kwelo gunya lithe lawuguqula umthetho lowo. Isenzo esinjalo sokuthobela imithetho yobupopi siza kuba siluphawu lokunyaniseka kwabantu kupopi endaweni kaThixo. IE18 396.4

Ubupopi buzamile ukuwuguqula umthetho kaThixo. Umthetho wesibini owalela ukunqulwa kwemifanekiselo, uye wasuswa emthethweni, waza umthetho wesine waguqulwa ngendlela apha ethi igunyazise ukugcinwa komhla wokuqala endaweni yowesixhenxe njengeSabatha. Phofu ubupopi bubeka, njengesizathu sokuwususa umthetho wesibini, ukuthi, awunyanzelekanga, njengoko uqukiwe kowokuqala, nokuba bawunika umthetho kanye njengoko uThixo amisele ukuba uqondwe. Le ayinako ukuba ibe lutshintsho oluxelwa kwangaphambili ngumprofeti. Kunikwa utshintsho olunenjongo nolwangabom: “[Uya kucinga] ukuwenza wambi amathuba nomthetho.” Utshintsho kumthetho wesine luzalisekisa kanye ngokutsolileyo isiprofeto. Ngokwenza oku, igunya ekuphela kwalo elinikwayo lelebandla. Kule ndawo, igunya lobupopi luzimisa ngokuphandle ngaphezu kukaThixo. IE18 397.1

Nangona abanquli bakaThixo beya kubonakala ngendlela eyodwa ngokuhlonipha umthetho wesine,--njengoko olu ingumqondiso wamandla aKhe okudala nobungqina bebango laKhe kwintlonipho nembeko yomntu,--abanquli berhamncwa baya kubonakala ngemizamo yabo yokuwisela phantsi isikhumbuzo soMdali, baphakamise isimiso seRoma. Kwakungenxa yosuku iCawa obathi ubupopi babonakalisa amabango abo okuziphakamisa (bona kwiSIHLOMELO); kwaye ukubhenela kwabo [ubupopi] kwigunya lomthetho wesizwe yayikukunyanzelisa ukugcinwa kweCawa “[njenge]Mini yeNkosi.” Yona iBhayibhile yalatha kumhla wesixhenxe, hayi owokuqala, njengeMini yeNkosi. UYesu wathi, “UNyana woMntu uyinkosi yayo neSabatha.” Umthetho wesine uthi: “Umhla wesixhenxe uyiSabatha kaYehova.” Ngomprofeti uIsaya, uYehova uyinika isihlonipho esithi: “Ingcwele kaYehova.” Marko 2:28; Isaya 58:13. IE18 397.2

Ibango elikholisa ukwenziwa, lokuba uKristu wayeguqula iSabatha liphikiswa ngamazwi aKhe. KwiNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni wathi: “Ningabi ndize kuchitha umthetho, nokuba ngabaprofeti; andize kuchitha, ndize kuzalisekisa. Kuba inene ndithi kuni, Koda kudlule izulu nehlabathi kungakhanga kudlule nalinye iganyana nokuba lisuntswana emthethweni, kude kwenzeke konke. Othe ngoko wachitha noko umnye kule mithetho mincinanana, wabafundisa abantu ngokunjalo, kothiwa ungomncinanana ebukumkanini bamazulu; othe wenza wafundisa ngayo, kothiwa ngomkhulu ebukumkanini bamazulu,” Mateyu 5:17-19. IE18 397.3

Yinyaniso evunywayo ngamaProtestanti jikelele ukuba iziBhalo aziniki gunya lakuguqulwa kweSabatha. Oku kubekwe kwacaca kwimibhalo ekhutshwa yiAmerican Tract Society kunye neAmerican Sunday School Union. Omnye wale misebenzi uya kuvuma “ukuthula okupheleleyo kweTestamente eNtsha ngokubhekiselele kumyalelo ocace gca weSabatha [iCawa, usuku lokuqala lweveki] okanye imigaqo ecacileyo yokugcinwa kwayo.”--George Elliott, The Abiding Sabbath, page 184. IE18 398.1

Omnye uthi: “Ukuza kufika kwixesha lokufa kukaKristu, akukho nguquko [okanye lutshintsho] olwenziwayo elusukwini;” kwaye, “ngokokubonisa kwengxelo, bona [abapostile] abazange . . . banike myalelo ucace ngokuphandle oyalela ukuyekwa kweSabatha yomhla wesixhenxe, nokugcinwa komhla wokuqala weveki.”--A. E. Waffle, The Lord’s Day, pages 186-188.IE18 398.2

AmaRoma Katolika ayavuma ukuba ukutshintshwa kweSabatha kwenziwa libandla lawo, atsho ukuthi, amaProtestanti, ngokugcina iCawa [usuku], avuma igunya lalo [ibandla leRoma Katolika]. Encwadini efundisa ngenkolo yobuRoma Katolika, iCatholic Catechism of Christian Religion, ekuphenduleni umbuzo ongosuku olumelwe ukugcinwa ekuthobeleni umthetho wesine, kwenziwe le ntetho: “Ngexesha lomthetho omdala, uMgqibelo lusuku olwangcwaliswayo; kodwa ibandla, liyalelwe nguYesu Kristu, lakhokelwa nguMoya kaThixo, liye lamisa iCawa [usuku] endaweni yoMgqibelo; ngoko ke, ngoku singcwalisa olokuqala, hayi olwesixhenxe usuku. [Ngoko ke,] iCawa [usuku] ithetha, kwaye ngoku iyiyo, iMini yeNkosi.”IE18 398.3

Njengophawu lwegunya leBandla iKatolika, ababhali bobupopi bayacaphula intetho ethi: “. . . esi senzo kanye sokuguqula iSabatha [usuku] lube ngeCawa [usuku], nto leyo amaProtestanti ayivumelayo; . . . kuba ngokugcina iCawa [usuku] amkela igunya lebandla lokumisela izidlo, nokuyiyalela phantsi kokuba nesono [xa zingathotyelwanga].”--Henry Tuberville, An Abridgment of the Christian Doctrine, page 58. Kuyintoni na ke ngoko ukuguqulwa kweSabatha, xa kungenguwo umqondiso, okanye uphawu, lwegunya leBandla laseRoma—“uphawu lwerhamncwa”? IE18 398.4

IBandla laseRoma aliliyekanga ibango lalo lobukhulu; kwaye xa ihlabathi namabandla amaProtestanti esamkela isabatha eyenziwe lilo, lo gama eyala iSabatha yeBhayibhile, ayayamkela ngokupheleleyo le ngcamango [yeBandla laseRoma]. Angalibanga wona igunya lesithethe sooBawo sotshintsho; kodwa ngokwenza oko atyeshela inkqu yomthetho-siseko owahlula wona neRoma—othi “iBhayibhile, iBhayibhile kuphela yinkolo yamaProtestanti.” Umpopi uyabona ukuba ayazikhohlisa, bewavala ngokuzithandela amehlo kwiinyaniso zalo mba. Ithi xa iya ithandwa intshukumo yokunyanzeliswa kokugcinwa kweCawa [usuku] yena [umpopi] avuye, azive eqinisekile ukuba ekugqibeleni iza kulizisa lonke ilizwe lobuProtestanti phantsi kwebhanile ye[Bandla] laseRoma. IE18 399.1

AmaRoma athi, “ukugcinwa kweCawa ngamaProtestanti kukunika intlonipho, ngokunxamnye nokuthanda kwawo, kwigunya leBandla [leKatolika].”--Mgr. Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, iphepha 213. Ukunyanzeliswa kokugcinwa kweCawa ngamabandla amaProtestanti kukunyanzeliswa kokunqulwa kobupopi—kwerhamncwa. Abo bathi, nangona beliqondaibango lomthetho wesine, basuka bakhethe ukugcina [iSabatha] yobuxoki, endaweni yeSabatha yenyaniso, ngokwenza njalo, banika imbeko kwelo gunya elikuphela kwalo eliyiyaleleyo. Kuko konke ukunyanzelisa koxanduva lwenkolo ngegunya lolawulo lwezwe, amabandla, wona ngokwawo, aza kuba enza umfanekiselo werhamncwa; ngoko ke ukunyanzeliswa kokugcinwa kweCawa yiUnited States kuya kuba kukunyanzeliswa konqulo lwerhamncwa nomfanekiselo walo.IE18 399.2

Sekunjalo, amaKristu ezizukulwana ezidlulileyo ayigcina iCawa, ecinga ukuba, ngokwenza njalo ayegcina iSabatha yeBhayibhile; kwaye nangoku, akho amaKristu anyanisekileyo kumabandla onke, nakwiRoma Katolika ngokwayo, abakholelwa ngokwenene ukuba iCawa iyiSabatha engummiselo ongcwele. UThixo uyakwamkela ukunyaniseka kwenjongo nokuthembeka kwabo phambi kwaKhe. Kanti ke, xa kuthe ukugcinwa kweCawa kwamiselwa ngomthetho [woburhulumente], nehlabathi lakhanyiselwa ngokubhekiselele kunyanzeleko lokugcinwa kweSabatha yenyaniso, ngelo xesha, wonke odlula kumyalelo kaThixo, athobele umthetho ongenagunya likhulu liwumiseleyo ingelilo elaseRoma, uya kuthobela ubupopi ngaphezu kukaThixo. Unika imbeko kwiRoma nakwigunya elinyanzelisa isimiso esisikelelwe yiRoma. Unqula irhamncwa nomfanekiselo walo. Xa, ke ngoko, abantu besala isimiselo athe uThixo waxela ukuba singumqondiso wegunya laKhe, basuke bona bahloniphe endaweni yaso oko iRoma enyule ukuba kube ngumqondiso wobukhulu bayo, ngokwenza njalo baya kuba bamkela uphawu lokuthobela iRoma—“uphawu lwerhamncwa.” Kuya kuba ngelo xesha ke, xa umcimbi uya kuba ucaciswe ngokupheleleyo phambi kwabantu, baze benziwe ukuba bakhethe phakathi kwemithetho kaThixo nemithetho yabantu, abaya kuthi, abo baqhubeka nokuwugqitha umthetho [kaThixo], bamkele “uphawu lwerhamncwa.” IE18 399.3

Esona soyikiso sikhulu esakha sanikwa uluntu siqulathwe kwisigidimi sengelosi yesithathu. Kunokuba sesona sono sibi esirholela emhlabeni ingqumbo kaThixo engaphithikezwanga nenceba. Abantu abasayi kushiywa bengazi okanye besebumnyameni ngokubhekiselele kulo mcimbi ubalulekileyo; isilumkiso ngakwesi sono siza kunikwa umhlaba phambi kokuba ufikelwe zizigwebo zikaThixo; ukuze bonke abantu basazi isizathu sokubandezelwa kwabo, baze babe nethuba lokuziphepha izigwebo ezo. Isiprofeto sixela ukuba isithunywa sezulu sokuqala senza isaziso “kwiintlanga zonke, nezizwe, neelwimi, nabantu.” Isilumkiso sesithunywa sezulu sesithathu, nesiyinxalenye yesigidimi esintlantlu-ntathu, naso siza kusasazwa ngokufanayo. Sinikwe esiprofetweni njengesivakaliswa ngelizwi elikhulu, yingelosi ephaphazela esazulwimi sezulu; saye siza kuyitsala ingqondo yehlabathi lonke.IE18 400.1

Kumcimbi wembambano, ubuKristu buza kwahlukana bube ngamaqela amabini amakhulu—abo bagcina imithetho kaThixo nokukholwa kuYesu, kunye nabo banqula irhamncwa nomfanekiselo walo, bamkele uphawu lwalo. Nangona kuya kumanyana ibandla noburhulumente ukunyanzela “bonke, abancinane nabakhulu, abazizityebi nabangamahlwempu, abakhululekileyo nabangamakhoboka” (IsiTyhilelo 13:16), ukuba bamkele “uphawu lwerhamncwa,” bona abantu bakaThixo abasayi kulwamkela. Umprofeti wasePatimo wabona “nabo bavela beloyisile irhamncwa nomfanekiselo walo, nophawu lwalo, nenani legama lalo, bemi ngaselwandle lwegilasi, beneehadi zikaThixo” bevuma ingoma kaMoses neMvana. IsiTyhilelo 15:2, 3. IE18 400.2