3—Ixesha Lobumnyama Basemoyeni —(Ukreqo)

Umpostile uPawulos, kwileta yakhe yesibini eya kwabaseTesalonika, waxela kwangaphambili ngokreqo olukhulu olwaluza kuba nesiphumo sokumiselwa kwegunya lobupopi. Waxela ukuba imini kaKristu ayiyi kufika “lungakhanga lufike ulahlo kuqala, atyhileke umntu wesono, unyana wotshabalalo; lowo uchasayo, uziphakamisayo ngaphezu kwento yonke ekuthiwa nguThixo, nehlonelwayo, ngokokude azihlalise etempileni kaThixo, ezenza uThixo, azibonise ukuba unguThixo.” Ngaphezu koko, umpostile ulumkisa abazalwana bakhe ngelithi “imfihlelo yokuchasana nomthetho iselisebenza.” 2 Tesalonika 2:3, 4, 7. Kwangelo xesha lasekuqaleni, wabona kungena ngokurhubuluza ebandleni, iimposiso ezaziza kulungisa indlela yokuphuhliswa kobupopi. IE18 45.1

Kancinane, kancinane, ngendlela echwechwayo nethuleyo, kamva kwathi gabalala ngexesha kusanda amandla, izuza ulawulo lweengqondo zabantu, “imfihlelo yokuchasa” yawuqhubela phambili umsebenzi wayo wokukhohlisa nokunyelisa. Ngendlela eyaphantsa ukungabonakali, amasiko obuhedeni azifumanela indlela yawo yokungena ebandleni lobuKristu. Umoya wokuyekelela nokuvumelana wakha wacinezeleka okwexesha elithile, phantsi kweentshutshiso ezazisoyikeka elathi ibandla lazinyamezela phantsi kobuhedeni. Kwathi kodwa yakudamba intshutshiso, ubuKristu bangena kwiinkundla namabhotwe ookumkani, bakubekela bucala ubulula obuthobekileyo bukaKristu nabapostile baKhe, bamkela ubuyokoyoko nekratshi lababingeleli nabaphathi babahedeni; kwathi endaweni yoko kufunwa nguThixo, bamisa iimfundiso nezithethe zabantu. Ukuguquka nje ngegama kukaConstantine, kwisigaba sasekuqaleni senkulungwane yesine, kwenza kwabakho uvuyo olukhulu; laza ihlabathi, lambethe ingubo yokumila kobulungisa, langena ebandleni. Ngoku umsebenzi wokonakalisa waqhubela phambili ngokukhawuleza. Ubuhedeni, nangona babubonakala boyisiwe, boyisa. Umoya wabo walilawula ibandla. Iimfundiso zabo, iinkonzo, neenkolo zabo zahlanganiswa enkolweni nakunqulo lwabo babezibiza ngokuba bangabalandeli bakaKristu.IE18 45.2

Oku kuvumelana phakathi kobuhedeni nobuKristu baba nomphumela wokuphuhliswa “komntu wesono” ekwathethwa ngaye esiprofetweni njengochasayo noziphakamisa ngaphezu kukaThixo. Olu hlelo lwenkolo lukhulu kakhulu bubuchule bamandla kaSathana—isikhumbuzo samandla akhe—okuzihlalisa etroneni ukuba alawule umhlaba ngokwentando yakhe.IE18 46.1

USathana wakha wazama ukuba avumelane noKristu. Weza kuNyana kaThixo kwintlango yesihendo, waye embonisa uYesu zonke izikumkani zomhlaba nobuqaqawuli bazo, wathembisa ukunikela konke kulawulo lwaKhe ukuba angabuvuma ubukhulu benkosi yobumnyama. UKristu wabukhalimela ubuganga bomlingi wamnyanzela ukuba emke. Ukuzuza ubutyebi nembeko yehlabathi, ibandla lenziwa ukuba lifune ukuthandwa nokuxhaswa ngamadoda amakhulu omhlaba; lathi lakuba limalile ngaloo ndlela uKristu, lanyanzeleka ukuba liziyekele ekuthobeleni ummeli kaSathana—ubhishophu waseRoma. IE18 46.2

Yenye yeemfundiso eziphambili yobuRoma le yokuba upopi uyintloko ebonakalayo yebandla likaKristu kwindalo yonke, nonikwe elona gunya liphezulu phezu kweebhishophu nabafundisi kuzo zonke iindawo zomhlaba. Ngaphezu koku, upopi uye wanikwa izihlonipho zikaThixo ngokwaKhe. Uye wabizwa ngokuthi, “Nkosi Thixo uPopi” (Bona ISIHLOMELO), kwaza kwathiwa akakwazi ukona. Unyanzelisa ukuba ahlonitshwe ngabantu bonke. Ela bango lalikhuthazwa nguSathana kwintlango yokulingwa, lisakhuthazwa nguye ngebandla laseRoma, kwaye inyambalala yabantu ikulungele ukumnika imbeko. IE18 46.3

Bona abo bamoyikayo bemhlonela uThixo baqubisana nobu buganga budele izulu ngale ndlela uKristu waqubisana ngayo nokubongoza kotshaba olunamaqhinga: “Uze uqubude eNkosini uThixo wakho, ukhonze yena yedwa.” Luka 4:8. UThixo akazanga watsho nelilodwa elizwini laKhe ukuthi unyule nabani ukuba abe yintloko yebandla laKhe. Imfundiso yobukhulu bobupopi ichasene ngokutsolileyo neemfundiso zeziBhalo. UPopi akanako ukuba negunya phezu kwebandla likaKristu ngaphandle kokuba ulithabatha ngenkani.IE18 46.4

AmaRoma azingisile ukuwamangalela amaProtestanti ngokukreqa nokuzahlula ngenkani kwibandla eliyinyaniso. Eyona nto, ezi zityholo zazibhekis kuwo [amaRoma]. Aba ngabo bayiwisayo ibhanile kaKristu balushiya “ukholo abalunikelwayo kakanye abangcwele.” Yuda 3. IE18 46.5

USathana wayesazi kakuhle ukuba iziBhalo eziNgcwele zaziya kubenza abantu ukuba baziqonde iinkohliso zakhe nokuba bakwazi ukumelana negunya lakhe. Kwakungelizwi awathi ngalo noMsindisi wehlabathi wamelana nokuhlasela kwakhe. Kuhlaselo ngalunye, uKristu wabeka ikhaka lenyaniso engunaphakade, esithi, “Kubhaliwe.” Kwicebiso ngalinye lomchasi, wayephikisana nobulumko negunya lelizwi. Ukuze uSathana abe nakho ukulugcina ulawulo lwakhe phezu kwabantu, nokumisela igunya lomphang’ igunya wobupopi, kufuneka abantu ebagcine ekungazazini iziBhalo. IBhayibhile yayiya kumphakamisa uThixo ize ibabeke abantu abanesiphelo kweyona ndawo ibafaneleyo; ngenxa yoko, iinyansio zayo ezingcwele kufuneka zifihlwe, zicinezelwe. Le ndlela yokucinga yamkelwa liBandla laseRoma. Kumakhulu eminyaka, ukusasazwa kweBhayibhile kwalelwa. Abantu balelwa ukuba bayifune okanye babe nayo ezindlwini zabo, baza ababingeleli noobhishophu abangenamthetho bazichaza iimfundiso zayo ngendlela yokuxhasa iinjongo zabo. Ngolo hlobo upopi waba ngoyena wamkelwa emhlabeni wonke njengommeli kaThixo emhlabeni, onikwe igunya phezu kwebandla nesizwe. IE18 47.1

Sakuba sisusiwe isixhobo sokwalatha iimposiso, uSathana wasebenza ngokwentando yakhe. Isiprofeto sasixelile ukuba ubupopi buya“kucinga ngokuwenza wambi amathuba nomthetho.” Daniyeli 7:25. Lo msebenzi, akuzange kulibazise ukuwuzama. Ukunika abaguquka besuka ebuhedenini into emi endaweni yonqulo lwezithixo, ngaloo ndlela kukhuthazwe ukwamkeleka nje ngegama kobuKristu, ukunqulwa kwemifanekiso eqingqiweyo nabantu ababhubha kudala kwangeniswa ngokucondobayo kunqulo lobuKristu. Umthetho owenziwa kwiqumrhu labantu bonke (Bona ISIHLOMELO) ekugqibeleni walumisela olu hlelo lonqulo lwezithixo. Ukugqibezela umsebenzi wokuhlambela, iRoma yaba nobuganga bokususa emthethweni kaThixo umthetho wesibini, owalela ukunqulwa kwemifanekiso, nokwahlula kubini umthetho weshumi, ukuze ligcine inani [lemithetho elishumi].IE18 47.2

Umoya wokuvumela ubuhedeni wakuvulela indlela okungaphezulu ukungathotyelwa kwegunya leZulu. USathana, esebenza ngeenkokeli ezingangcwalisekanga zebandla, wabhutyabhutyana nomthetho wesine, wazama ukuba ayibekele bucala iSabatha yakudala, umhla uThixo awawusikelelayo wawungcwalisa (Genesis 2:2, 3), wathi endaweni yawo, waphakamisa isidlo esasigcinwa ngabahedeni njenge“mini ehloniphekileyo yelanga.” Ekuqaleni olutshintsho aluzange lwenziwe ekuhleni. Kwiinkulungwane zokuqala, iSabatha yenene yayigcinwa ngawo wonke amaKristu. Ayenekhwele ngokuzukisa uThixo, aza athi, ekholelwa ukuba umthetho waKhe awunako ukujika, abulinda ngenzondelelo ubungcwele bemiyalelo yawo. Waya wathi, ngobuqhophololo obukhulu, uSathana wasebenza ngabathunywa bakhe ukuba aveze injongo yakhe. Ukuze ingqondo yabantu iziswe kwiCawa, yenziwa yaba sisikhumbuzo sokuhlonipha ukuvuka kukaKristu. Iinkonzo zenkolo zazibanjwa ngayo; kanti ke yayithatyathwa njengemini yokuzonwabisa, kuba iSabatha yayisagcinwa ngcwele. IE18 47.3

Ukulungisa indlela yomsebenzi awayecebe ukuba awufeze, uSathana wayewakhokelele amaYuda, ngaphambi kokufika kukaKristu, ukuba ayiqobe iSabatha ngokuyisindisa ngezona zidingo zinzima, ezakwenza ukuyigcina kwangumthwalo. Ngoku, ngokuthabatha ithuba lokukhanya bobuxoki awenza ngako ukuba ibonwe [ingumthwalo] wenza ukuba idelwe ithatyathwe njengesimiso samaYuda. Lo gama amaKristu jikeleleeqhubeka nokugcina iCawa njengosuku lwesikhumbuzo sovuko, wawenza ukuba, ukuze abonise intiyo yawo ngakubuYuda, kufuneka ukuba ayenze iSabatha ibe lusuku lokuzila, usuku losizi nokudakumba.IE18 48.1

Kwisigaba sokuqala senkulungwane yesine, ukumkani uKonstantina wakhupha umthetho owenza iCawa ibe sisikhumbuzo sabantu bonke kubo bonke ubukumkani baseRoma. (Bona ISIHLOMELO) Usuku lwelanga lwaluhlonitshwa ngabantu abangabahedeni, kanti lwalukwahlonitshwa nangamaKristu; yaba ngumyalelo wokumkani ukumanya okukhathalelweyo, kodwa okungqubanayo, kobuhedeni nobuKristu. Wakhuthazwa ukuba akwenze oku ngoobhishophu bebandla, abathi, bekhuthazwe libhongo nokunxanelwa amandla, babona ukuba, xa usuku olunye lugcinwa ngamaKristu nabahedeni, lunokukukhuthaza ukwamkelwa nje kwegama lobuKristu ngabahedeni ukuze oko kuhambisele phambili amandla nodumo lwebandla. Kwathi ke, lo gama amaKristu amaninzi amoyikayo uThixo ayekhokelelwa kancinane ekuyithabatheni iCawa ngelithi inawo umda wobungcwele, ayesayigcina iSabatha yenene njengengcwele kaYehova, aza ayigcina ngokuthobela umthetho wesine. IE18 48.2

Umkhohlisi omkhulu wayengawugqibanga umsebenzi wakhe. Wayegqibe ekubeni alithabathele phantsi kwebhanile yakhe lonke ilizwe lobuKristu, nokuba asebenzise igunya lakhe ngommeli wakhe, upopi onekratshi owayebanga ukuba ungummeli kaKristu. Ngabahedeni abangaguqukanga ngokupheleleyo, oobhishophu abaneminqweno, nabazalwana abathanda ihlabathi, wayifeza injongo yakhe. Kwabanjwa amaqumrhu amakhulu amaxesha ngamaxesha, apho izikhulu zebandla zazibizwe zivela kwiinkalo zonke zomhlaba. Phantse kwiqumrhu ngalinye, iSabatha awayimisayo uThixo yayicinezelelwa phantsi kancinane, kancinane, lo gama iCawa yayiphakanyiswa kwangokufanayo. Ngaloo ndlela, isikhumbuzo sobuhedeni, ekugqibeleni, sanikwa imbeko njengesimiso sikaThixo, lo gama iSabatha yeBhayibhile yaziswa njengentsalela yakudala yobuYuda, baza abagcini bayo kwathiwa banezothe.IE18 48.3

Umkreqi omkhulu wakuphumelela ukuziphakamisa “ngaphezu kwento yonke ekuthiwa nguThixo, nehlonelwayo.” 2 Tesalonika 2:4. Ngesibindi, wazama ukutshintsha umthetho ekuphela kwawo kumthetho ongcwele wezuluothi, ngaphandlekwentandabuzo, ukhombiselonke uluntu kuThixoophilileyonoyinyaniso. Kumthetho wesine, uThixo utyhilwa njengoMdali wamazulu nomhlaba, aze ngaloo ndlela abe uyahlulwa kubo bonke oothixo bobuxoki. Kwaba sisikhumbuzo somsebenzi wokudala okwenza ukuba umhla wesixhenxe ubekelwe bucala, ube ngcwele, njengomhla wokuphumla komntu. Wamiselwa ukuba ugcine uThixo ophilileyo ehleli ngalo lonke ixesha ezingqondweni zabantu njengentsusa kunye nenjongo yokunika imbeko nokunqula. USathana uzama ukubasusa abantu ekunyanisekeni kuThixo, nasekuthobeleni umthetho waKhe; ngenxa yoko, imizamo yakhe uyibhekisa ngakumbi ekuchaseni loo mthetho ukhomba kuThixo njengoMdali. IE18 49.1

AmaProtestanti aqala ngoku ukunyanzelisa ukuthi, ukuvuka kukaKristu ngeCawa kwayenza ukuba ibe yiSabatha yobuKristu. Bona ubungqina besiBhalo abukho. Akukho mbeko injalo yanikwa imini leyo nguKristu okanye ngabapostile baKhe. Ukugcinwa kweCawa njengesimiso sobuKristu imvelaphi yako isuka kuloo “mfihlelo yokuchasana” (2 Tesalonika 2:7) eyayisele iwuqalile umsebenzi wayo kwangemihla kaPawulos. Kwakuphi, nini, apho iNkosi yamkela lo mntwana wobupopi? Sithini isizathu esivakalayo esinokunikwa ngokutshintshwa okungavunyelwanga ziziBhalo? IE18 49.2

Ngenkulungwane yesithandathu ubupopi babumiselwe ngokuqinileyo. Isihlalo segunya labo sasimiswe kwisixeko solawulo, kwaye ubhishophu waseRoma enziwe ukuba abe yintloko ephezu kwalo lonke ibandla. Ubuhedeni babuyekele kubupopi. Inamba yayilinike irhamncwa “amandla ayo, netrone yayo, negunya elikhulu.” IsiTyhilelo 13:2. Yaba iyaqala iminyaka eli-1260 yengcinezelo yobupopi ekwaxelwa ngayo kwangaphambili kwiziprofeto zikaDaniyeli nesiTyhilelo. Daniyeli 7:25; IsiTyhilelo 13:5-7. (Bona ISIHLOMELO). AmaKristu anyanzelwa ukuba akhethe phakathi kokuncama intembeko yawo amkele iinkonzo nonqulo lobupopi, okanye abulahle ubomi bawo emihadini okanye afe emanqwanqweni, ekojiweni phezu kwenkuni, okanye kwizembe lokunqunyulwa kweentloko. Ngoku kwazaliseka amazwi kaYesu: “Ke kaloku niya kunikelwa nangabazali, nangabazalwana, nayimizalwane, nazizihlobo, kubekho nabababulalayo kuni; nithiywe ngabantu bonke ngenxa yegama lam.” Luka 21:16, 17. Intshutshiso yaqala kwabathembekileyo ngengqumbo enkulu kuneyakha yabonwa ngaphambili, laza ihlabathi laba libala elikhulu lokulwa. Kumakhulu eminyaka, ibandla likaKristu lazuza isiphephelo kwiindawo ezisekunqabeni nezikhuselekileyo. Kungoko athi umprofeti: “Umfazi wasabela entlango, apho ikhona indawo ayilungiselwe nguThixo, ukuze bamnqake khona imihla eliwaka elinamakhulu mabini anamanci mathandathu.” IsiTyhilelo 12:6. IE18 49.3

Ukufikelela kweBandla laseRoma egunyeni kwaphawula ukuqala kweXesha lobuMnyama. Ngokukhula kwegunya lalo, ubumnyama baya buba nzulu. Ukholo lwasuswa kuKristu, isiseko esiyinyaniso, lwaya kupopi waseRoma. Endaweni yokuthembela kuNyana kaThixo ngokuxolelwa izono nosindiso olungunaphakade, abantu bakhangela kupopi, nakubabingeleli noobhishophu awathi wanikela kubo igunya. Bafundiswa ukuba upopi wayengumthetheleli wabo wasemhlabeni nokuba akakho owayenokuya ngqo kuThixo engayi ngaye; nokuba, umi endaweni kaThixo kubo, ngoko ke, wayefanele ukuba athotyelwe ngokupheleleyo. Ukuphuma ecaleni koko akufunayo kwakwanele ukwenza ukuba kubekho esona sohlwayo siqatha kuloo mizimba nemiphefumlo yaboni. Ngaloo ndlela, iingqondo zabantu zajikwa zemka kuThixo zaya kubantu abanokona, abaneemposiso, nabakhohlakeleyo, hayi, ngaphezu koko, zaya kwinkosi yobumnyama ngokwayo, eyayisebenzisa igunya layo ngabo. Isono safihlwa kwingubo yobungcwele. Xa iziBhalo zicinezelwe, aze umntu azibone ukuba yena uphezulu, kudingeka ukuba silindele kuphela inkohlakalo, inkohliso, nobubi obuhlazisayo. Ngokuphakanyiswa kwemithetho nezithethe zabantu, kwatyhileka inkohlakalo ehlala iziziphumo zokubekelwa bucala komthetho kaThixo.IE18 50.1

Leyo yayiyimihla yomngcipheko ebandleni likaKristu. Abaphakamisi bebhanile abathembekileyo babembalwa ngokwenene. Nangona inyaniso yayingashiywanga ingenawo amangqina, maxa wambi kwakubonakala ngokungathi imposiso nenkolo zaziya koyisa ngokupheleleyo, ize inkolo yenyaniso ilahlwe ingabikho eMhlabeni. Igospile yayingabonakali, kodwa kwanda kona ukumila kweemo zenkolo, baza abantu bathwaliswa okunzima ekunyanzelekileyo ukuba bakwenze. IE18 50.2

Bafundiswa ukuba banganeli ukukhangela kupopi kuphela, njengoMthetheleli wabo, kodwa bathembele nasemisebenzini yabo ukuze kucanyagushelwe isono. Iihambo ezinde, izenzo zokuzohlwaya, ukunqula iintsalela zabantu bakudala ekuthiwa “bangcwele,” ukwakhiwa kweenkonzo, amangcwaba abangcwele, nezibingelelo, ukuhlawula iimali ezinkulu ebandleni—zonke ezi zinto nezinye izenzo ezininzi ezifanayo, zahlanganiswa ukuze kuxoliswe ingqumbo kaThixo okanye kuzuzwe uthando lwaKhe; ngokungathi uThixo ufana nabantu, ukuba enziwe umsindo zizinto ezincinance, okanye axoliswe zizipho nezenzo zokuzohlwaya! IE18 51.1

Nangona seboyise kangako ububi, naphakathi kwenkokeli zeBandla laseRoma, impembelelo yalo yabonakala iya inyuka. Ngesithuba sokuphela kwenkulungwane yesibhozo, abobupopi benza ibango lokuba, kwiminyaka yokuqala yebandla, iibhishophu zaseRoma zazinamandla asemoyeni amanye nala zinawo ngeli xesha. Ukumisa eli bango, kufuneka kukho into eyenziwayo ukubonisa ukuba linalo igunya; kwaza oku kwakhawuleza kwacetyiswa nguyise wobuxoki. Imibhalo yakudala yenziwa ngamadoda angoonongendi [iimonk]. Imithetho yamaqumrhu engazanga yaviwa ngaphambili, yafunyanwa, kumiswa ukongama kwizwe lonke kukaPopi kususela kumaxesha asekuqaleni. Ibandla elaliyalile inyaniso, lazamkela ezi nkohliso ngokubawa. (Bona ISIHLOMELO).IE18 51.2

Iqaqobana labakhi ababethembekile phezu kwesiseko esiyinyaniso (1 Korinte 3:10, 11) badideka bathintelwa, lo gama inkunkuma yemfundiso yobuxoki ithintela umsebenzi. Njengabakhi phezu kodonga lweYerusalem ngemihla kaNehemiya, abanye babelungele ukuthi: “Amandla abathwali bemithwalo ayetha, inkunkuma ininzi; thina asinakulwakha udonga.” Nehemiya 4:10. Bediniwe kukulwa okungapheliyo nentshutshiso, ubuqhetseba, ububi, naso sonke esinye isithintelo esasinokwenziwa nguSathana ukuphazamisa inkqubela yabo, abanye ababengabakhi abathembekileyo, basuka batyhafa; kwathi, ngenxa yokufuna uxolo nenkuseleko yezinto zabo kunye nobomi babo, bajika basishiya isiseko esiyinyaniso. Abanye, bengoyikiswa yinkcaso yeentshaba, ngesibindi bathi: “Musani ukuboyika; khumbulani iNkosi enkulu eyoyikekayo” (indima 14); baza baqhubeka nomsebenzi, elowo ikrele lakhe libhinqwe ecaleni lakhe. Efese 6:17.IE18 51.3

Kwawona loo moya mnye wentiyo nenkcaso yenyaniso ukhuthaze iintshaba zikaThixokuzozonkeizizukulwana,kwathiukuphaphama nokunyaniseka okunye kwafuneka kukho kubakhonzi baKhe. Amazwi kaKristu kubafundi bokuqala ayasebenza kubalandeli baKhe ekupheleni kwexesha: “Oko ndikutsho kuni, ndikutsho kubo bonke, Lindani.” Marko 13:37. IE18 52.1

Ubumnyama babonakala busiya buba ngqingqwa. Unqulo lwemifanekiso lwafumaneka kuyo yonke indawo. Amakhandlela akhanyiswa phambi kwemifanekiso, kuthandazwa kuyo. Kwagquba ezona nkolo zingamahlazo. Iingqondo zabantu zalawulwa ngokupheleleyo ziinkolo kwada kwabonakala ukucinga kulahlekwe kukulawula. Ngena yokuba ababingeleli noobhishophu bona ngokwabo bethanda iziyolo, umbulo, bekhohlakele, kwakulindeleke kuphela ukuba abantu abalindele ukukhokelwa ngabo babeya kutshona ekungazini nasebubini.IE18 52.2

Kwaya kwathi chatha ukugabadela ubupopi, xa, kwinkulungwane yeshumi elinanye, uPopie uGregory VII wavakalisa ukuba iBandla laseRoma ligqibelele. Phakathi kwezinto awazibekayo kwabakho ukuvakalisa ukuba ibandla alizanga lona, laye lingasokuze lone nanini, ngokweziBhalo. Azizange zibekho zona izibonakaliso zeziBhalo ukukhapha oko wayekutsho. Lo popi uzidlayo, waya wabanga nokuba unamandla okususa iikumkani ezihlalweni, wathi akukho sigwebo asenzayo sinokurhoxiswa nangubani, kodwa yayililungelo lakhe ukurhoxisa izigwebo zabo bonke abanye. (Bona ISIHLOMELO).IE18 52.3

Umzekelo ocacileyo wesimilo sobundlobongela balo, ubabaza ukungabi nako ukona, wanikwa kwindlela awaphatha ngayo ukumkani waseJamani, uHenry IV. Ngobuganga bokungakhathaleli igunya likaPopi, lo kumkani kwathiwa ugxothiwe nokuba ususiwe etroneni. Ngokoyika ukulahlwa nokuthenjiswa ngokubulawa ziinkosana zakhe, ezazikhuthazwa ukuba zimvukele ligunya likaPopi, uHenry weva kunyanzelekile ukuba enze uxolo neRoma. Ehamba nenkosikazi yakhe nesicaka sakhe esithembekileyo, waqabela iintaba iAlps phakathi ebusika, ukuze azithobe phambi kukaPopi.Wathi xa efika ebhotwe apho uGregory wayehlala khona, nalapho, kubusika obunengqele eqatseleyo,engayigqumanga intloko,ngaphandle kwezihlanguezinyaweni, ambethe impahla edlakadlaka, walindela imvume kapopi ukuba angene ahlangane naye. Kwada kwaba ziintsuku ezintathu elapho evuma isono, waqala upopi ukuhla ukuba amxolele. Kanti ke nangoko, kwaba phantsi kwemeko yokuba ukumkani alindele imvume kaPopi phambi kokuba agaxele iimpawu zesikhundla okanye asebenzise igunya lobukhosi. Emva koko, uGregory emile iimpiko kukoyisa kwakhe, wayeqhayisa ngelithi, ngumsebenzi wakhe ukuthoba ikratshi lookumkani.IE18 52.4

Indlela omkhulu ngayo umahluko phakathi kwekratshi elikhulu lalo Popi uziphakamisileyo nobulali nobubele bukaKristu, ozizoba njengocenga kucango lwentliziyo ukuba avulelwe angene, ukuze angene ngaphakathi azise uxolelo noxolo, nowafundisa abafundi baKhe, esithi: “Osukuba enga angaba ngowokuqala phakathi kwenu, makabe ngumkhonzi wenu.” Mateyu 20:27.IE18 53.1

Iinkulungwane ezilandelayo, zabona ukukhula okuzingisileyo kwempazamo kwiimfundiso eziphuma eRoma. Kwangaphambi kokuba kumiswe ubupopi, iimfundiso zeenkcuba-buchopho zabahedeni zanikwa ingqwalaselo zaza zanempembelelo ebandleni. Abaninzi ababesithi baguqukile, basabambelele kwimithetho yabo yolwazi lobuhedeni, baye bengaphelelanga ekuzifundeleni bona, kodwa bekhuthaza nabanye njengendlela yokwandisa impembelelo yabo phakathi kwabahedeni. Ngaloo ndlela, iimpazamo ezinkulu zangeniswa kwinkolo yobuKristu. Phambili kwezi yayiyinkolo yokubanokungafi komntu ngokwendalo kwakunye nokuba sezingqondweni kwakhe xa efile. Le mfundiso ikwisiseko ethe iRoma yamisa phezu kwaso inkolo yokumenywa kwabangcwele nokunqulwa kukaMariya Ongcwele. Kwakuyo le kwaphuma imfundiso elulahlekiso engokuthuthunjiswa ngonaphakade nokokugqibela kwabo bangakhange bazohlwaye, nayo eyahlanganiswa kwasekuqaleni nenkolo yobupopi.IE18 53.2

Emva koko, yalungiswa indlela yokungena kwenye imfundiso yobuhedeni, iRoma eyayibiza ngokuthi yindawo yentlambululo, yaza yayisebenzisa ukoyikisa abangakholwayo nezihlwele ezineenkolo. Ngolu ulahlekiso kuqinisekiswa ubukho bendawo yokuthuthumbisa, aphoimiphefumloyabangafaneleukutshabalala ngonaphakadekufuneka yohlwaywe ngenza yezono zabo ukuze ukusuka apho, kwakuba kususwe kwaphela konke ukungcola, iyokufakwa ezulwini. (Bona ISIHLOMELO) IE18 53.3

Kanti ke yayisekho nenye intsomi eyayidingeka ukuze iRoma ikwazi ukuba nenzuzo ngokoyika nobubi babo bazayamise kuyo. Le yanikwa yimfundiso yokuthenga kokuxolelwa kwezono. Ukuxolelo olupheleleyo ilweono, ezadlulayo eangoku, ezexesha elizayo, kwakunye nokukhululwa kuzo zonke iintlungu nezohlwayo ezikhoyo, kwathenjiswa kubo bonke ababeza kungena kuluhlu lweemfazwe zikapopi ukuze kwande ubukumkani bakhe basemhlabeni, nokohlwaya iintshaba zakhe, okanye ukubacima baphele abo banesibindi sokukhanyela ukongama kwakhe kwasemoyeni. Abantu baya bafundiswa nokuba, ukuhlawula imali ebandleni kungabakhulula bona esonweni, kukhulule nemiphefumlo yabahlobo babo abafayo, eyagcinwa kumalangatye entuthumbiso. Ngaloo ndlela, iRoma yazalisa oovimba bayo yaxhasa ubuhle, ulonwabo, nobubi babo bazenza abameli baLowo Yena wayengenayo nendawo yokubeka intloko yaKhe. (Bona ISIHLOMELO) IE18 53.4

Inkonzo esesiBhalweni yesiDlo seNkosi yasuswa ngokungeniswa komnikelo wonqulo-zithixo ongumthendeleko. Ababingeleli bobupopi babesenza intshwaqane eninzi engaqondakaliyo ngelithi baguqula isonka esi siqhelekileyo kunye newayini zibe luqobo “lomzimba negazi likaKristu.”--Cardinal Wiseman, The Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Eucharist, Proved From Scripture [Ubukho buQu boMzimba neGazi leNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu kuMthendeleko Ongcwele, Kuboniswa ngobungqina beziBhalo] Lecture 8, sec. 3, par. 26. Ngobuganga obunokunyelisa, bawabanga ekuhleni amandla okudala u‘Thixo’, uMdali weento zonke. AmaKristu kwakufuneka, ejongene nokufa, ukuba aluvume ekuhleni ukholo lwawo kolu lahlekiso lubi, nolugculela iZulu. Inkungu nelanga eyalayo yanikelwa emalangatyeni. (Bona ISIHLOMELO).IE18 54.1

Ngenkulungwane yeshumi elinesithathu kwamiswa eyona ndlela inamandla kunazo zonke obabunazo ubupopi—ukuncinwa kokholo yiCawa yaseRoma. Inkosi yobumnyama yazimanya neenkokeli zolawulo lobupopi. Kwiintlanganiso zazo zasemfihlakalweni, uSathana neengelosi zakhe bazilawula iingqondo zabantu abakhohlakeleyo, lo gama, bengabonwa phakathi kwabo, kwakumi ingelosi kaThixo, ithabatha ingxelo eyoyikekayo yemithetho yoncino lokholo, ikwabhala nembali yezenzo nazo ezibi ukuba zivele phambi kwamehlo abantu. “IBhabheli enkulu” “yanxila ligazi labangcwele.” Imizimba eqwengiweyo yezigidi zabafelukholo yakhala kuThixo ifuna ukuphindezelelwa kwelo gunya lokreqo.IE18 54.2

Ubupopi bawugonyamela wonke umhlaba. Ookumkani nabalawuli bathoba kwimithetho kaPopi waseRoma. Iziphelo zabantu, ezexesha nezikanaphakade, zabonakala ngokungathi ziphantsi kolawulo lwakhe. Kumakhulu eminyaka iimfundiso zaseRoma zamkelwa ngokubanzi, kungekho ntandabuzo, iinkonzo zayo zisenziwa ngembeko, izikhumbuzo zayo zigcinwe jikelele. Isifundisi sayo saphakanyiswa saxhaswa ngobubele. Ukugqibela ngoko, alizanga iBandla laseRoma lafikelela kwisidima, ubuhle, okanye amandla angako.IE18 54.3

Noko kunjalo, “imini enkulu yobupopi yaba yinzulu yobusuku emhlabeni.”--J. A. Wylie, The History of Protestantism, b. 1, ch. 4. IziBhalo ezingcwele zazisaziwa kancinane, kungengabo abantu kuphela, kodwa nangababingeleli. NjengabaFarisi bakudala, iinkokeli zobupopi zakucekisa ukukhanya okwakuya kutyhila izono zabo. Kuba umthetho kaThixo, ongumgangatho wobulungisa, wawususiwe, balisebenzisa igunya labo bengenamida, benza ububi bengathintelwa nto. Ubuqhetseba, ukubawa, nenkohlakalo, zagquba. Abantu babengarhoxi nakokuphi na ukwaphula umthetho okwakunokubanika ubutyebi okanye isikhundla. Amabhotwe eePopi noobhishophu abakhulu yayizindawo zeyona miboniso yawona manyundululu akha amakhulu. Abanye boopopi abalawulayo babe nobutyala bolwaphulo lomthetho olwalulubi kangangokuba abaphathi bazama ukuzisusa ezikhundleni ezi zikhulu zebandla njengamarhamncwa angcole kakhulu ukuba anganyamezelwa. Kwaba ziinkulungwane iYurophu ingahambeli phambili ekufundeni, ebuchuleni, okanye kwinkcubeko. Ukudodobala kwengqondo kwakubufikele ubuKristu.IE18 55.1

Imeko yehlabathi phantsi kwegunya leRoma yenza ukuba kubekho ukuzaliseka okoyikekayo nokukhwankqisayo kwamazwi esiprofeto sikaHoseya: “Bayatshabalala abantu bam kukuswela ukwazi; kuba wena ukucekisile ukwazi, ndiya kukucekisa; . . . [kuba] wawulibala umyalelo kaThixo; wakho ndobalibala abantwana bakho nam.” “[Kuba] kungekho nyaniso, kungekho nceba, kungekho kwazi uThixo kweli lizwe, kukushwabula, nokuxoka, nokuncinitha, nokuba, nokukrexeza; bagqobhozile, igazi liphathelele kwigazi.” Hoseya 4:6, 1, 2. Zaba njalo iziphumo zokugxothwa kwelizwi likaThixo.IE18 55.2