Kawonedwe Kachikristu ka Mafano

“MUNALEKANA ndi kulambiri mafano . . . ndi kukhala atumiki a Mulungu weniweni, wamoyo,” analemba tero mtumwi Paulo kwa Akristu mu Tesalonika. (1 Atesalonika 1:9a) Inde, Akristu ambiri oyambirira panthaŵi imodzi anali akunja olambira mafano. (1 Akorinto 6:9-11) Koma pamene anakhala Akristu, iwo anasiya machitachita a kulambira mafano.

Kugwada pamaso pa mafano kunali kofala, ngakhale kuli tero, kotero kuti Akristu anali kusekedwa chifukwa iwo analambira popanda mafano. Akunja ena anafikira pa kuwapatsa mlandu wa kukhala osakhulupirira Mulungu! Chotero, ndimtotani, mmene kulemekeza kwa mafano pambuyo pake kunakhalira kofala tero m’Chikristu cha Dziko?

Mafano a Chikristu cha Dziko​—Kuchokera Kuti?

Machitachita ambiri achikunja analowetsedwa pakati pa “Akristu” pambuyo pa kotchedwa kutembenuzidwa kwa wolamulira Wachiroma Constantine. “Kuyambira m’masiku a Constatine,” akulongosola tero katswiri wa mbiri yakale ya chimpembedzo Edwyn Bevan m’bukhu lake Holy Images, “kugwiritsira ntchito kwa Mtanda monga chizindikiro m’dziko lonse la Chikristu kunakhala kofala ndipo mitundu ya ulemu mwamsanga inaperekedwa ku iwo.” Ichi chinapanga njira kaamba ka mitundu ina ya kulambira mafano. Bukhu limodzimodzilo linawona kuti: “Chikuwoneka kukhala chothekera kuti asanayambe kupereka ulemu ku zithunzithunzi ndi mafano mwambowo unali utalowamo mwa kupereka ulemu ku chizindikiro cha Mtanda, chimene mwa icho chokha . . . sichikupezeka m’zikumbukiro za Chikristu kapena opangapanga za luso la chipembedzo asanabwere Constantine kudzakhazikitsa chitsanzo mu labarum [muyezo wa gulu lankhondo lophatikizapo mtanda].”

Kachitidwe kameneka kanapitirizabe. M’zana lachisanu ndi chitatu C.E., John wa ku Damasiko, wolingaliridwa kukhala “woyera” ndi matchalitchi a Roma katolika ndi Eastern Orthodox, analemba kuti: “Monga mmene Atate woyera anagwetsera akachisi ndi malo opatulika a mdyerekezi, ndi kudzutsa m’malo mwawo malo opatulika m’maina a Oyera ndipo timawalambira iwo, mofananamonso anagwetsa mafano a mdyerekezi, ndipo m’malomwake anadzutsa mafano a Kristu, ndi Amayi wa Mulungu, ndi Oyera.”

Ku ichi, Thomas Aquinas, “woyera” wa Roma Katolika wa m’zana la 13, anawonjezera kuti: “Ulemu wofananawo uyenera kusonyezeda kulinga ku chifano cha Kristu ndi kulinga kwa Kristu Iyemwini . . . Mtanda umakometseredwa ndi zokometsera zimodzimodzizo monga Kristu, kunena kuti, ndi kukometsera kwa latria [kalongosoledwe ka Chikatolika kaamba ka mtundu wapamwamba koposa wa kulambira], ndipo kaamba ka chifukwa chimenecho timafikira ndi kupembedzera Mtanda monga mmene timachitira kwa Wopachikidwa Iyemwinyo.”

Aquinas akadawonedwa monga wogawirako wofunika koposa ku chiphunzitso cha “kulemekeza kwa mafano.” Mogwirizana ndi New Catholic Encyclopedia, “kulemekeza kwa mafano” kuyenera kumudikira iye “kuti kupeze kulongosola kwake kokwanira koposa.” Mosasamala kanthu za chimenecho, chiri chachimvekere kuti kulambira mafano kwa “Chikristu” kunangotumikira kokha kulowa m’malo kulambira fano kwachikunja.

Kulungamitsa Kugwiritsira Ntchito kwa Mafano a Chimpembedzo

Ambiri lerolino omwe amalemekeza mafano a chimpembedzo angakane kutchedwa olambira mafano. Kukana kwawo ku kuzindikiritsidwa koteroko, ngakhale kuli tero, sikuli katsopano. M’zana lachinayi, wotchedwa Woyera Augustine anaseka kulingalira kwa olambira mafano omwe sanali Akristu, akumanena kuti: “Pali wotsutsa wina yemwe amadziwonetsera iyenwini monga wophunzira, ndi woyera, sindilambira mwala umenewo, osatinso fano limenelo limene liribe malingaliro; . . . ndimalambira osati chifano ichi; koma ndimalemekeza chimene ndimawona, ndi kutumikira iye amene sindiwona.” M’mawu ena, iwo amadzinenera kukhala akulambira kokha munthu wosawoneka woimiridwa ndi mafano awo. “Mwakupereka mbiri imeneyi ya mafano awo,” Augustine anawonjezera kuti, “iwo amawoneka kwa iwo okha kukhala otsutsa okhoza, chifukwa salambira mafano, ndipo komabe amalambira ziwanda.”​—Expositions on the Book of Psalms ndi Augsutine, Psalm xcvii 9.

Ngakhale kuti anthanthi zaumulungu a Roma Katolika akhala ofulumira kutsutsa kulambira mafano kwachikunja, pamene chibwera ku kugwiritsira ntchito kwawo kwa mafano, iwo kaŵirikaŵiri asinthira ku zodzikhulukira zimodzimodzizo zomwe otchedwa akunja agwiritsira ntchito. Mwachitsanzo, ponena za mafano a Kristu, Mariya, ndi “oyera,” Bungwe la Trent la zana la 16 linalengeza kuti: “Ulemu ndi kulemekezedwa ziyenera kuperekedwa kwa iwo; osati, ngakhale kuli tero kuti umulungu uliwonse kapena ulemu ukukhulupiriridwa kukhala mwa iwo chifukwa cha chimene iwo ali oyenerera kulemekezedwera.” Chotero, nchifukwa ninji, pali kulemekezako? “Chifukwa ulemu umene ukusonyezedwa kwa iwo,” linalongosola tero bungwelo, “umalozeredwa ku zinthu zenizeni zimene iwo amaimira, kotero kuti kupyolera mwa mafano amene timapsyompsyona ndi amene pamaso pawo timavundukula mitu yathu ndi kugwada ife eni, timakometsera Kristu ndi kulemekeza oyera, amene kufanana kwawo ali nako.”

Kufikira ku tsiku lino Tchalitchi cha Roma Katolika chikupitirizabe kulungamitsa kulambira mafano pa maziko ofananawo: kuti mafano ali kokha njira ya kulunjikitsira chidwi pa wakumwambayo woimiridwa ndi iwo ndi kuti palibe ubwino kapena mphamvu zomwe ziri m’mafanowo. Ndi kuutali wotani, ngakhale ndi tero, kumene ichi chatsimikizira kukhala chowona m’zochitika zenizeni? Kodi onse amene amagwiritsira ntchito mafano ndithudi amakhulupirira kuti palibe ‘umulungu kapena ubwino mwa iwo’?

Mafano​—Lingaliro la Wolambirayo

Mu Seville, Spain, kulimbana kopanda maziko enieni kumakhalapo pakati pa atsatiri a Namwali la Macarena ndi Namwali de la Esperanza. Mu Cathedral ya Chartres, France, muli Anamwali atatu​—Our Lady of the Pillar, Our Lady of the Crypt, ndi Our Lady of the “Belle Verriere”​—aliyense wokhala ndi odzipereka ake ake. Mwachidziŵikire olambira awo ali okhutiritsidwa kuti fano lawo la Namwali Mariya liri mwanjira inayake lapamwamba ku mafano enawo​—ngakhale kuti mafano tatu onsewa amaimira munthu mmodzimodziyo! Mwachionekere, chotero, ulemu ukuperekedwa, osati kwa chimene chikuimiridwa, koma kwa mafano iwo eni.

Chotero, chimene Tchalitchi cha Roma Katolika chimadzikhululukira monga kulambira kochepa kaŵirikaŵiri chimatembenuka kukhala kulambira kwenikweni kwa fano. Chiyengo cha nthanthi zaumulungu chimatanthauza zochepa m’chiyang’aniro cha zaka mazana a kachitidwe kenikeni.

Nchiyani Chimene Baibulo Limanena?

Uphungu wa Baibulo umasiyana ndi nthanthi za odziŵa zaumulungu. Mulungu anachimveketsa kwa Israyeli wakale kuti kulambira mafano kunali kotsutsidwa kotheratu. (Eksodo 20:4, 5; Deuteronomo 4:15-19) Zowona, zoimira zina, monga ngati njoka ya mkuŵa imene Mose anaipanga, zinali kuvomerezedwa. Kugwada pansi mkulambira zinthu zoterozo, ngakhale ndi tero, kunaletsedwa kotheratu.​—Numeri 21:9; 2 Mafumu 18:1, 4.

Nthaŵi zina Israyeli sanamvere chiletso chimenechi pa kulambira mafano. Mwachitsanzo, pa Sinai, Israyeli anapanga ng’ombe ya golide kaamba ka kuilambira. Kunali kuchitira mwano kotani nanga kaamba ka iwo ‘kusinthanitsa ulemerero wa Mulungu kaamba ka choimira cha ng’ombe, yakudya msipu’! (Masalmo 106:20, NW) Koma mofanana ndi anthu a zimpebedzo ena lerolino, iwo amadzinenera kulambira, osati ng’ombe, koma Mulungu iyemwini! “‘Pano pali Mulungu wako, Israyeli,’ iwo anafuula ‘yemwe anakutulutsa iwe kutuluka m’dziko la Igupto!’” (Eksodo 32:1-5) Yehova, ngakhale kuli tero, sanalekerere kulambira “kochepa” kumeneku, kubwereranso kwadala kumeneku ku chipembedzo cha chiIgupto. (Machitidwe 7:39-41) Iko mwachindunji kunanyalanyaza pangano limene analowamo pa Sinai, ndipo kunabweretsa Aisrayeli m’ngozi ya kuiwalidwa kotheratu.​—Eksodo 32:9, 10, 30-35; Deuteronomo 4:23.

Nchifukwa ninji, ngakhale ndi tero, chimene Yehova Mulungu anatengera kaimidwe kamphamvu koteroko molimbana ndi mafano? Kaamba ka chinthu chimodzi; mafano ali opanda mphamvu; iwo sali kanthu. (Deuteronomo 32:21a; Masalmo 31:6) Yeremiya ananena kuti iwo anali ngati zinthu zothamangitsira akhawangwala, zopanda mpweya mwa izo. (Yeremiya 10:5, 14) Yesaya mofananamo anatonza awo amene anagwiritsira ntchito mbali ya mtengo kupanga moto kaamba ka kuphikira ndi mbali ina kupanga ka mulungu. Mneneriyo anachenjeza kuti olambira mafano oterowo “sadziŵa kalikonse, samvetsetsa kalikonse. Maso awo ali otsekedwa kuti asawone, mtima wawo ku kudziŵa konse.”​—Yesaya 44:13-18.

Ngozi imodzi yapadera yakupha yogwirizanandi kulambira mafano iri kuthekera kwa fanolo kutumikira monga malo okumanira ndi mphamvu za uchiwanda. Wamasalmo anaena ponena za Aisrayeli: “Potumikira mafano a akunja, iwo anadzipeza iwo eni atagwidwa m’kupereka nsembe ya ana awo a amuna ndi akazi kwa ziwanda.” (Masalmo 106:35-37; yerekezani ndi Levitiko 17;7; Deuteronomo 32:17.) Monga chotulukapo, njira inatsegulidwa kaamba ka machitachita ena a kukhulupirira malaulo, a mizumu. Chitsanzo china chiri chija cha Mfumu Manase, yemwe anayambitsanso kulambira mafano mu Israyeli. Monga chotsatirapo chake, “iye anamanga maguwa ansembe ku ulemerero wonse wakumwamba m’mabwalo aŵiri a Kachisi” ndipo anachita kuneneratu za mtsogolo ndi matsenga.” ​—2 Mafumu 21:1-6.

Malemba Achikristu a Chigriki amachenjeza za ngozi zofananazo. The New Bible Dictoinary imanena kuti: “Chipangano Chakale chimatsutsa molimbana ndi kulambira mafano . . . chimazindikira zowonadi ziŵiri zimodzimodzizo zimene Paulo pambuyo pake anayenera kuzitsimikizira: kuti fano liri lachabe, koma kuti mosasamala kanthu za chimenecho panali mphamvu yauzimu ya ziwanda yoyenera kugwirizanitsidwa nayo, ndipo kuti fanolo chotero limapanga udani weniweni wauzimu.” Paulo analemba kuti: “Tidziŵa kuti mafano ndithudi kulibe m’dziko ndipo kuti kulibe mulungu koma Mmodzi.” Koma pambuyo pake iye anachenjeza kuti: “Nsembe zimene amapereka amazipereka kwa ziwanda zomwe siziri Mulungu. Ndiribe chikhumbo cha kuwona inu m’chigwirizano ndi ziwanda.” – 1 Akorinto 8:4; 10:19, 20.

Inde, mphamvu zauzimu zoipa ziri zofunitsitsa kubweretsa munthu aliyense payekha pansi pa ulamuliro wawo. Paulo analemba kuti: “Pakuti si molimbana ndi adani a umunthu amene tiyenera kulimbana nawo, koma molimbana ndi Maulamuliro ndi Mphamvu zomwe zimachokera ku mdima m’dziko lino, gulu lankhondo lauzimu loipa m’mwamba.” (Aefeso 6:12) Kulambira mafano kwa mtundu wina uliwonse chotero kumaphetsa kuzindikira kwauzimu kwa wina, kumalimbikitsa kukhulupirira malaulo, ndipo kumapititsa patsogolo kugwirizana ndi atsogoleri a matsenga a dziko iri lamdima, loipa.

Kulambira ‘M’chowonadi’

Anthu ambiri owona mtima amagwiritsira ntchito mafano kuti akokedwere kufupi ndi Wakumva pemphero. Kusendera kufupi ndi Mulungu kuli kokhumbirika. Koma kodi tiri aufulu kusankha njira yathuyathu ya kumifikira? Ndithudi tiyenera kufuna kafikiridwe kamene kamasangalatsa Mulungu, osati ka ife eni. Yesu ananena kuti: “Ndine Njira, Chowondi ndi Moyo. Palibe wina angadze kwa Atate koma kupitira mwa ine.” (Yohane 14:6) Ichi chikachotsapo kugwiritsira ntchito kulambira mafano owumba. Yesu mowonjezereka anaphunzitsa kuti: “Koma ikudza nthaŵi​—m’chenicheni yafika kale pano​—pamene olambira owona adzalambira Atate mu mzimu ndi m’chowonadi: umenewo ndi mtundu wa wolambira amene Atate afuna. Mulungu ndi mzimu, ndipo awo omlambira ayenera kumlambira mu mzimu ndi m’chowonadi.”​— Yohane 4:23, 24.

Kodi wina aliyense amene ali mzimu angaimiridwe ndi fano la kuthupi? Ayi. Mosasamala kanthu za mmene fanolo lingakhalire, ilo silingalingane ndi ulemerero wa Mulungu. Chotero fano la Mulungu silingakhale nkomwe lowona. (Yerekezani ndi Aroma 1:22, 23.) Chotero kodi munthu akakhala ‘akulambira m’chowonadi’ ngati afikira Mulungu kupyolera mwa fano lina lonyenga?

Mboni za Yehova zathandiza zikwi za anthu kuthetsa machitachita a kulambira mafano ndi kukhala ‘mtundu wa olambira amene Atate afuna.’ Pambuyo pa kusonyezedwa kuchokera m’Baibulo mmene Mulungu amawonera mafano, ambiri asonkhezeredwa kuchotsa mafano m’nyumba zawo ndi mtundu wawo wa kulambira. (Yerekezani ndi Deuteronomo 7:25.) Zowona, nthaŵi zonse sichinakhale chopepuka kaamba ka oterowo kuchita tero. Koma iwo asonkhezeredwa ndi chikhumbo chowona mtima cha kumamatira mwathithithi ku Mawu a Mulungu Baibulo, lomwe limachenjeza Akristu owona: “Ananu, dzichinjirizeni molimbana ndi milungu yonyenga [m’chenicheni, mafano].”​—1 Yohane 5:21, mawu a m’munsi.

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Bokosi patsamba 7]

Kodi ‘Zithunzithunzi Zopakidwa Utoto Sizimakhala Mafano Nkhomwe’?

“Zinthunzithunzi zopakidwa utoto” zimalozera ku mtundu wachindunji wa chifano, wotchedwa, zopaka utoto za chipembedzo zopatsidwa ulemu ndi ziwalo za Tchalitchi cha Eastern Orthodox. Zina ziri zoimira za Kristu; zina zimaimira Utatu, Mariya, “oyera,” kapena angelo. Mofanana ndi Aroma Katolika, anthanthi zaumulungua chiOrthodox amalungamitsa kulemekeza kwa zithunzithunzi zopakidwa utoto monga kachitidwe kochepa komwe kamapereka kudziperekakwa wakumwamba woimiridwayo.” Chithunzithunzi chopakidwa utoto,” akudzinenera tero wanthanthi yaumulungu wa chiRussia, Sergey Bulgakov, “chimakhala kokha chinthu ndipo sichimakhala nkomwe fano kapena mulungu.”

Panthaŵi imodzimodziyo, ngakhale ndi tero, Tachilitchi cha Eastern Orthodox chimaphunzitsa kuti chithunzithunzi chopakidwa utoto chingabweretse mapindu apadera kwa wolambira yemwe amapemphera pamaso pake, kokha ngati chithunzithunzi chopakidwa utotocho “chayeretsedwa” ndi tchalitchi. “Mwambo wa kudalitsa wa chithunzithunzi chopakidwa utoto,” akunena tero Bulgakov m’bukhu lake The Orthodox Church, “ umakhazikitsa chigwirizano pakati pa fano ndi chinthu chake choimiridwa, pakati pa chimene chaimiridwacho ndi choimira icho cheni. Ndi dalitso la chinthunzithunzi chopakidwa utoto cha Kristu, msonkhano wa chinsinsi wa chikhulupiriro ndi Kristu umapangidwa kukhala wothekera. Chiri chofanana ndi zithunzithunzi zopakidwa utoto za Namwali ndi Oyera; zithunzithunzi zawo zopakidwa utoto, mmodzi anganene tero, zimatalikitsa miyoyo yawo pansi pano.”

M’kuwonjezerapo, zinthunzithunzi zopakidwa utoto zambiri za Mariya zimakhulupiridwa kukhala ndi mphamvu yozizwitsa. “Ngakhale kuti iye akhalabe kumwamba,” akunena tero Bulgakov, “iye akadakhala ndi ife m’moyo wathu wa padziko, amavutika ndi zovuta zake, ndipo amalira ndi misozi yake. Iye amalowereramo kaamba ka dziko pamaso pa mpando wachifumu wa Mulungu. Iye amadzivumbula iyemwini ku dziko m’zinthunzithunzi zake zopakidwa utoto zogwira ntchito mozizwitsa.”