UKhisimusi—Kungani Uyingozi?

“UKHISIMUSI” kubhala uGeorge Bernard Shaw ngo-1897, “uphoqelelwa abanini bezitolo namaphephandaba esizweni esimadolonzima nesinengwayo.” Ingabe lokho kwakunjalo emuva lé? Ngokubaluleke kakhulu, ingabe kunjalo namuhla?

Esigijimini saso sikaKhisimusi sika-1983, iThe Star saseJohannesburg, eNingizimu Afrika, sakhala: “Ngesikhuthazo esinomsindo sokuthi thenga, thenga, thenga, esiduma emisakazweni, kumathelevishini nasezitolo ezinkulu, kumaphephandaba nakomagazini, abantu abaningi baye balahlekelwa isigijimi sothando ngokushisekela ukuthenga.”

Naphezu kwezinto ezinjalo, abantu benkolo bayakhuthaza: Phindiselani uKristu kuKhisimisi. Kodwa amaKristu anesizathu sokubuza: Ingabe uKristu wake waba yingxenye kaKhisimusi? Lokhu kuwukukhathalela okubalulekile, ngoba amaKristu eqiniso ayayazi ingozi. Uma ehlanganyela ezenzweni zenkolo uNkulunkulu angazivumeli, awanakusithola isibusiso sakhe. Ngakho, siyini isiqalo sikaKhisimusi?

Isizinda Sawo

Abantu basendulo basenyakatho babesaba ukuthi umnyama wesikhathi eside kaDecember wawuyonqoba ilanga. Njengengxenye yomkhuba wabo womlingo, bahlobisa amakhaya abo ngesihlahla i“holly,” isihlahla esithandelayo, umhlalanyoni, ama“laurels” nezinye izihlahla ezingomi, ngenxa yokuthi lezi zazibonakala zinamandla angaphezu kwawemvelo okusinda. Kwakushiswa amakhandlela nomlilo ngomzamo wokuvuselela ilanga elifayo. Ezingxenyeni zaseYurophu umgidingo wokushisa isigodo usenziwa. Yini eyisizathu salomkhuba manje oyisiko likaKhisimusi? “Ngokusobala kwakuwukuhlangana kwemikhuba emibili emidala—ukukhanya nezihlahla ezingashi—okwaphumela esihlahleni sethu sikaKhisimusi samanje,” kuphetha uMichael Harrison kuThe Story of Christmas.

AmaRoma asendulo ayenomkhosi wasebusika owawubizwa ngokuthi iSaturnalia, owawuqala ngomhla ka-17 kuDecember uqhubeke kuze kube umhla ka-24. Encwadini yakhe iAncient Italy and Modern Religion, uDr. Conway unikeza nansi incazelo yalowomkhosi: “Ngemvume yabo bonke ukuphila okuvamile konakala; abantu bayeka imisebenzi ebalulekile, futhi uma bengatamasi emzini womunye, babezula emigwaqweni bememezana ngokuthi ‘Io Saturnalia’ njengoba nje sithi ‘UKhisimusi Omuhle’ . . . Kulomkhosi wawulindeleke ukuba unikeze izipho ezithile kubo bonke abangane bakho; . . . Wawubhekwa njengomuntu owunyube kakhulu uma ungakabi kuyo yonke iSaturnalia!”

Cishe ngo-85 C.E., imbongi uMartial yakhipha izincwadi ezimbili, iXenia neApophoreta, eziyizigatshana ezimfushane ezingama-350. Lezi zinkondlo zaziklanyelwe ukukopishwa futhi zithunyelwe nezipho zikaSaturnalia ukuze zinezele, njengoba uDr. Conway echaza, “ubumnandi obuthokozisayo bezincwadi.” Ingabe lokho akuzwakali kufana namakhadi anamuhla kaKhisimusi? Futhi njengamakhadi kaKhisimusi anamuhla, eziningi izigatshana zikaMartial zazinokungcola okubi ngokwedlulele.

Yayithi ingakadluli nje iSaturnalia, amaRoma agubhe umkhosi woNyaka Omusha weKalends. IThe Story of Christmas, iyachaza: “Phakathi nalesikhathi sokwesasa okuvamile, kwakunosuku olubekelwa eceleni lokukhulekelwa kwelanga okukhethekile elikuzalwa kwalo kabusha okucatshangelwayo ngesikhathi sasebusika sokuphenduka kwelanga kwakunikeza izaba zakho konke lokhu kwenama kobuqaba okusakazekile. Lolusuku lwalwaziwa ngokuthi iDies Solis Invicti Nati, uSuku Lokuzalwa Kwelanga Elingenakunqotshwa, futhi lwaluba ngesikhathi esihambisana no-25 December kukhalenda yethu.” Lomkhosi kamuva kwathiwa uKhisimusi ukuze inani labantu baseRoma lidonseleke ‘ebuKristwini’ obonakele.

Yebo, uKhisimusi waqala ekukhulekeleni ilanga okungebona ubuKristu. Lomkhosi ungabuye ulandelelwe kuze kufikwe emuva eBabiloni lasendulo lapho abantu babekhulekela unkulunkulu welanga uShamash. “Ukufana okumangalisayo kwemikhuba kaKhisimusi kuyenzeka ekugujweni koNyaka Omusha kwaseBabiloni,” kuvuma isazimlando uPimlott kuThe Englishman’s Christmas.

Ungabona yini manje ukuthi kungani igama elithi “ingozi” kumelwe lihlanganiswe noKhisimusi. IBhayibheli linikeza isixwayiso esisobala kumaKristu ngokuphathelene neBabiloni Elikhulu (elihlobene nenkolo esekelwe ezimfundisweni zeBabiloni lasendulo). IZwi likaNkulunkulu liyeluleka: “Phumani kulo, bantu bami, ukuze ningahlanganyeli nalo izono zalo, nokuba ningamukeli okwezinhlupho zalo.” (IsAmbulo 18:4) Abanye bangase babe nomuzwa wokuthi kuwukweqisa ukubheka uKhisimusi njengengozi engokomoya. Kodwa ake siphawule amaqiniso angokomlando ngendlela amaKristu akuqala abheka ngayo ukugcina iholide elalicatshangelwa njengeligxile ekuzalweni kukaJesu kodwa eqinisweni lihlobene nokugubha kobuqaba.

Ingabe AmaKristu Akuqala Awugubha UKhisimusi?

UProfessor Ferguson encwadini yakhe iThe Religions of the Roman Empire, uthi: “AmaKristu akuqala awazange alugubhe usuku lokuzalwa kukaJesu; lwalungaziwa.” IBhayibheli alilunikezi usuku oluqondile lokuzalwa kukaJesu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, liyabonisa ukuthi uJesu akazalwanga ngenyanga kaDecember noma uJanuary ezinamakhaza nemvula (ePalestina), kodwa ngenkathi yonyaka efudumele. Kungashiwo kanjani lokho?

Cishe ngesikhathi sokuzalwa kukaJesu, umbusi wamaRoma uKesari Awugustu wamemezela ukuba izikhonzi ziye emzini wokuzalwa kwazo futhi zibalwe. IBhayibheli liyabika: “Bonke baya kubalwa, yilowo nalowo emzini wakubo.” (Luka 2:1-7) UJosefa noMariya bahamba amakhilomitha ayi-110 besuka eNazaretha beya eBetlehema. Ingabe lokhu kwakungenzeka esikhathini sikaDecember esibandayo nesinemvula (ePalestina)?

Kepha akukhona lokho kuphela. Ngokuphathelene nesikhathi sokuzalwa kukaJesu, iBhayibheli liyanezela: “Kwakukhona abelusi kulelozwe ababehlezi endle, belinda umhlambi wabo ebusuku.” (Luka 2:8) Lencazelo ayifanelani nenyanga yemvula yakwaIsrayeli efana noDecember wethu wamanje—isikhathi lapho amazinga okushisa endaweni yaseBetlehema engabaphansi kakhulu.—Ezra 10:9, 13; Jeremiya 36:22.

Kunelinye iphuzu elibalulekile. Uma uJesu ayefuna ukuba abalandeli bakhe bagubhe ukuzalwa kwakhe, kungani engabayalanga ukuba benze kanjalo? Ngokuphathelene nosuku lokufa kwakhe, wahlela umkhosi olula futhi wayala: “Yenzani lokhu ukuba ningikhumbule.” (Luka 22:19) UJesu akazange anikeze isiyalezo esinjalo ngokuphathelene nokuzalwa kwakhe.

Igama elithi “uKhisimusi” aliveli kwanhlobo eBhayibhelini ngoba wawungekho umkhosi onjalo phakathi kwabafundi bakaJesu bakuqala. UDr. R. S. Conway uyachaza: “Isazi esikhulu senkolo uOrigen, ekuqaleni kwekhulu lesithathu izikhathi eziningi siphindaphinda inkulumo esithi sayithatha komunye wabanduleli baso, yokuthi akukho muntu nje noma usanta ongumKristu owake wagcina usuku lokuzalwa, olwakhe noma lomunye. Kwakungabantu ababi kuphela njengoFaro noma uHerode abamikhosi yabo yosuku lokuzalwa iphawulwe emiBhalweni. Lokhu kubonisa ngokukhanya kahle ukuthi uma ake wezwa ngomkhosi onjalo nangoKhisimusi wayewuphikisa ngokuphelele.”

AmaKristu Ayizihlubuki Nemikhosi Yasebusika Yobuqaba

AmaKristu akuqala amelana nesilingo sokuhlanganyela emikhosini yobuqaba yomakhelwane bawo. Kodwa iBhayibheli labikezela ukuthi, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwakuyoba nokuhlubuka okukhulu phakathi kwamaKristu. (IzEnzo 20:29, 30; 2 Thesalonika 2:3; 1 Thimothewu 4:1-3; 2 Petru 2:1, 2) Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lesibili umbhali uTertullian kwafuneka asole “amaKristu” ngokuhlanganyela “emkhosini kaSaturn, nokaJanuary, nowesikhathi saseBusika sokuphenduka kwelanga.” Uphawula “ukwabiwa kwezipho” futhi abonise ukumangala ngokuthi abaningi babehlobisa amakhaya abo ‘ngezibani nezihlahla ama“laurels.”’

Naphezu kwesiyalo esinjalo ibandla lobuKristu lakuqala elimsulwa lonakaliswa. Esuka kokubi eya kokubi kakhulu, amaKristu ayizihlubuki athethelela inkambo yawo ngokunikeza imikhosi yobuqaba igama “lobuKristu.” Njengoba incwadi iChristmas ivuma: “ISonto LobuKristu . . . ekhulwini le-4 lakubona kufaneleka ukuthatha usuku lobuqaba olungcwele lukaDecember 25, isikhathi sasebusika sokuphenduka kwelanga . . . Usuku lokuzalwa kwelanga lwaba usuku lokuzalwa kweNdodana kaNkulunkulu.”

Kungani UKhisimusi Uyingozi Kangaka?

Abanye bangase babe nomuzwa wokuthi ukugujwa kukaKhisimusi kuyingozi ngenxa yokuthi kuthuthukisa umoya wobugovu. Ngokwesibonelo, umsusi wesizungu uDanie Martins, wathi emsakazweni waseNingizimu Afrika washaqeka ngokuzwa indlela abantwana ababheka ngayo uKhisimusi. Emicimbini yabantwana wababuza ukuthi kungani “sigubha uKhisimusi.” Impendulo evamile: “Ukuze sithole izipho.” Abazali abangababhali uMartin noDeidre Bobgan, bakhomba enye ingozi: “Abaningi asebekhulile bondla abantwana ngenkohliso nangokusontekile kamuva okungase kuholele ekubeni bangakholelwa kuNkulunkulu. Ngokubheka komntwana, uma uBab’ uKhisimusi okuthiwa ukhona ngempela engekho, khona-ke mhlawumbe uNkulunkulu okuthiwa ukhona naye akekho.”

Nokho ingozi engathi sína kakhulu yokugubha uKhisimusi iwukuthi kungase kuholele ekulahlekelweni umusa kaNkulunkulu. Ngani? Kunezizathu eziningi. Ngokwesibonelo, uKhisimusi ukhuthaza ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe, okuthile okwenqatshelwe eBhayibhelini. (1 Johane 5:21) Lokhu kwenziwa ngokusobala emifanekisweni eminingi yokuzalwa kukaJesu, njengasesontweni laseAracoeli, eRoma. Kuthiwani ngokungeniswa kwesihlahla sikaKhisimusi sobuhedeni kwamaningi amasonto obuProthestani? Ingabe lokhu akusikiseli ukukhulekela isithombe?

Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukugujwa kukaKhisimusi kuye kwakhuthaza ukukhulekelwa kukaJesu esikhundleni sikaYise, uJehova uNkulunkulu. Lokhu kungolunye uhlobo lokukhulekela isithombe ngoba iNkosi ekhazinyulisiwe uJesu Kristu ‘ingukuqala kokudaliweyo kukaNkulunkulu.’ (IsAmbulo 3:14; bheka futhi amaRoma 1:25) Ukuculwa kwamahubo okuthokoza kuye kwasebenzela ukugxilisa lomqondo ophambene ezigidigidini zezinhliziyo zabasha. Elinye ihubo lokuthokoza elithandwayo lihlanganisa lamazwi: “Phakathi nobusika obumakhaza indawo yesitebele yafanela iNkosi uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke uJesu Kristu.”

Iqiniso liwukuthi uJesu akazange athi unguNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke. Kunalokho uJesu wathi: “UBaba mkhulu kunami.” (Johane 14:28) Waqondisa konke ukukhulekela kuYise, ethi: “Wokhuleka eNkosini uNkulunkulu wakho umkhonze yena yedwa.” (Mathewu 4:10) Ngisho nangemva kokuvuka kwakhe uJesu waqhubeka eqondisa ukukhulekela kuYise wasezulwini.—Johane 20:7.

UKhisimusi unikeza isembozo senkolo kulokho empeleni okuyisikhathi sokuzitika nokungazithibi. Ukuziphatha kokuyekelela emicimbini kaKhisimusi kuyimbangela edume kabi yezinkinga zomshado. NgokweBritish National Marriage Guidance Council, inani eliphindwe kabili kunelivamile lesonto ngalinye lemibhangqwana leza lizofuna iseluleko ngemva kwenkathi kaKhisimusi ka-1983. Imicimbi kaKhisimusi yakhishwa njengenye yezimbangela kanye ‘nokuswela imali yokudla, yezipho neyamathoyisi.’ Izinto ezinjalo zihlobana nenye inkinga engathi sína. Ngokwesazi sengqondo saseJohannesburg, “Izinga lokuzibulala nokuzama ukuzibulala landa ngokwethusayo ngalesikhathi.”

Ngeke futhi singakunaki ukuthi labo abaqhubeka bengaphansi kwethonya elingokwenkolo ‘leBabiloni Elikhulu’ babhekene nengozi enkulu. Isiprofetho seBhayibheli sibonisa ukuthi isikhathi sokwahlulelwa kwalo sesiseduze kakhulu.—2 Thimothewu 3:1-5.

Ngokuqinisekile, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, nemikhuba yawo yobuhedeni namaholide, ngokushesha uyosuswa phakade. Manje, lapho kusenesikhathi, zehlukanise nemikhuba yawo eyengayo. Kunalokho hlanganyela namaKristu eqiniso ayosindiswa ukuba ajabulele ukuthula kwaphakade nomusa phakathi kwabantu.—IHubo 37:29.

[Isithombe ekhasini 5]

Ingabe imifanekiso yokuzalwa kukaJesu, njengalona esontweni eliseRoma, ayihlobene nokukhulekela kobuKristu?

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Ngesikhathi sikaKhisimusi, abantwana baseRoma balethwa ukuba bakhulekele lesisithombe esontweni iAracoeli