Indlela INdikimba Ebusayo Ehluke Ngayo Enhlanganweni Engokomthetho
IMIHLANGANO yaminyaka yonke ye-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania ibilokhu iqhutshwa kusukela ngo-January ka-1885. Lapho kwakusaqoqwa amaKristu agcotshiwe ekupheleni kwekhulu le-19, abaqondisi nezikhulu zale nhlangano babenethemba lasezulwini. Eqinisweni, cishe bekulokhu kunjalo ngaso sonke isikhathi.
Kwaba nesikhathi lapho kwenzeka okuhlukile. Ngo-1940, uHayden C. Covington—ngaleso sikhathi owayengumeluleki weNhlangano kwezomthetho futhi engomunye ‘wezinye izimvu,’ enethemba lasemhlabeni—wakhethwa njengomqondisi weNhlangano. (Johane 10:16) Wakhonza njengephini likamongameli weNhlangano kusukela ngo-1942 kuya ku-1945. Ngaleso sikhathi, uMfoweth’ uCovington wadeda ekubeni ngumqondisi ukuze kuvunyelwane nalokho okwakubonakala kuyintando kaJehova ngaleso sikhathi—ukuba bonke abaqondisi nezikhulu zenhlangano yasePennsylvania babe ngamaKristu agcotshiwe. ULyman A. Swingle wathatha isikhundla sikaHayden C. Covington ebhodini yabaqondisi, futhi uFrederick W. Franz wakhethwa njengephini likamongameli.
Kungani izinceku zikaJehova zazikholelwa ukuthi bonke abaqondisi nezikhulu ze-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania kufanele babe ngamaKristu agcotshiwe? Ngoba ngaleso sikhathi, ibhodi yabaqondisi nezikhulu zenhlangano yasePennsylvania babehlotshaniswa eduze neNdikimba Ebusayo YoFakazi BakaJehova, okuselokhu kwathi nhló yakhiwa amadoda agcotshwe ngomoya wodwa.
Umhlangano Waminyaka Yonke Oyingqopha-mlando
Emhlanganweni waminyaka yonke owawungo-October 2, 1944, ePittsburgh, amalungu enhlangano yasePennsylvania amukela izwi lesinqumo elinezingxenye eziyisithupha elalichibiyela umthetho-sisekelo wayo. Lo mthetho-sisekelo wawuvumela ukuba labo abanikela ngezimali emsebenzini wenhlangano banikwe amasheya okuvota, kodwa isichibiyelo sesithathu salisusa lelo lungiselelo. Umbiko owenziwa kulowo mhlangano waminyaka yonke waphawula: “Amalungu eNhlangano ngeke esaba ngaphezu kuka-500 . . . Ngamunye okhethiwe kumelwe abe yinceku yeNhlangano yesikhathi esigcwele noma inceku yebandla lofakazi bakaJehova yesikhathi esilinganiselwe futhi kumelwe abonise umoya weNkosi.”
Ngemva kwalokho, abaqondisi beNhlangano base bezovotelwa ezikhundleni abantu ababezinikele ngokugcwele kuJehova, kungakhathaliseki inani lemali ababelinikela ukuze bathuthukise umsebenzi woMbuso. Kwahlaluka ukuthi lokhu kwakuvumelana nokulungisa okuqhubekayo okubikezelwe ku-Isaya 60:17, lapho sifunda khona: “Esikhundleni sethusi ngiyakuletha igolide, nasesikhundleni sensimbi ngiyakuletha isiliva; esikhundleni somuthi ithusi, nasesikhundleni samatshe insimbi, ngibeke ukuthula kube ngababonisi bakho, nokulunga kube ngababusi bakho.” Lapho sikhuluma ‘ngababonisi nababusi,’ lesi siprofetho sasibhekisela ekuthuthukisweni kwezinqubo zenhlangano phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova.
Lesi sinyathelo esibalulekile ekulungisweni okungokwasezulwini kwenhlangano senzeka ekupheleni ‘kwezikhathi zokuhlwa nezokusa eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu,’ okukhulunywa ngazo kuDaniyeli 8:14. Ngaleso sikhathi, ‘indawo engcwele yenziwa yaba sesimweni sayo esifanele.’
Nokho, ngemva komhlangano waminyaka yonke oyingqopha-mlando ngo-1944, kwasala umbuzo obalulekile. Njengoba ngaleso sikhathi iNdikimba Ebusayo yayihlobene eduze nebhodi yenhlangano yasePennsylvania enamalungu ayisikhombisa, ingabe lokhu kwakusho ukuthi iNdikimba Ebusayo yayingasoze yaba namaKristu agcotshiwe angaphezu kwayisikhombisa? Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba abaqondisi bekhethwa amalungu enhlangano, ingabe lawo malungu enhlangano ayekhetha amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo emihlanganweni yaminyaka yonke? Ingabe abaqondisi nezikhulu ze-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania namalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo bayinto eyodwa, noma bahlukene?
Omunye Umhlangano Waminyaka Yonke Ongenakulibaleka
Le mibuzo yaphendulwa emhlanganweni waminyaka yonke owawungo-October 1, 1971. Kulowo mhlangano, esinye sezikhulumi saphawula ukuthi indikimba ebusayo ‘yesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo’ yaba khona emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambi kokuba kube khona i-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Indikimba ebusayo yakhiwa ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., emakhulwini eminyaka angaphezu kuka-18 ngaphambi kokuba kube khona inhlangano yasePennsylvania. Ekuqaleni, indikimba ebusayo yayingakhiwe amadoda ayisikhombisa, kodwa yayakhiwe abaphostoli abangu-12. Ngokusobala, inani layo landiswa kamuva, ngoba kwakuhola ‘abaphostoli namadoda amadala eJerusalema.’—IzEnzo 15:2.
Ngo-1971 leso sikhulumi sachaza ukuthi amalungu e-Watch Tower Society ayengenakuvotela abathile ukuba bamiswe njengamalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo. Ngani? Sathi: “Ngoba indikimba ebusayo yesigaba ‘sesigqila’ ayimiswa muntu. Imiswa . . . nguJesu Kristu, iNhloko yebandla lobuKristu leqiniso neNkosi yesigaba ‘sesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo.’ Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo awanakuvotelwa ezikhundleni zawo amalungu enhlangano ethile engokomthetho.
Isikhulumi saqhubeka sasho la mazwi abaluleke kakhulu: “Indikimba ebusayo ayinazo izikhulu ezinjengezeBhodi Yabaqondisi yeNhlangano, okungumongameli, iphini likamongameli, umgcini-zimali ongunobhala nomsizi wakhe. Inosihlalo kuphela.” Iminyaka eminingi, umongameli wenhlangano yasePennsylvania wayebuye abe yilungu eliyinhloko leNdikimba Ebusayo. Lokhu kwakungeke kusenzeka. Nakuba engalingani ngokuhlangenwe nakho noma amakhono, amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo ayesezolingana ngomthwalo wemfanelo. Isikhulumi sanezela: “Noma yiliphi ilungu lendikimba ebusayo lingaba usihlalo wayo ngaphandle kokuba ngumongameli . . . weNhlangano ngesikhathi esifanayo . . . Kuxhomeke esimisweni sokushintshana ngokuba usihlalo wendikimba ebusayo.”
Kulowo mhlangano waminyaka yonke ongenakulibaleka ngo-1971, kwaba nomahluko ocacile phakathi kwamalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo agcotshwe ngomoya nabaqondisi benhlangano yasePennsylvania. Noma kunjalo, amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo aqhubeka ekhonza njengabaqondisi nezikhulu zeNhlangano. Nokho, namuhla kuphakama umbuzo: Ingabe sikhona isizathu esingokomBhalo esenza kufuneke ukuba abaqondisi be-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania kube ngamalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo?
Impendulo ingucha. Inhlangano yasePennsylvania akuyona yodwa inhlangano engokomthetho esetshenziswa oFakazi BakaJehova. Zikhona nezinye. Enye yazo yi-Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Incorporated. Isisiza ekwenzeni umsebenzi wethu e-United States. Kusobala ukuthi uJehova uye wayibusisa leyo nhlangano, nakuba abaqondisi nezikhulu zayo ngokuyinhloko bebelokhu ‘bengabezinye izimvu.’ EBrithani kusetshenziswa i-International Bible Students Association. Kwamanye amazwe kusetshenziswa ezinye izinhlangano ezingokomthetho ukuze kuthuthukiswe izithakazelo zoMbuso. Zonke ziyasiza futhi zinendima eziyifezayo ekwenzeni izindaba ezinhle zishunyayelwe emhlabeni wonke. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zikuphi noma ukuthi obani abangabaqondisi noma izikhulu zazo, lezi zinhlangano ziqondiswa ngokwasezulwini futhi zisetshenziswa yiNdikimba Ebusayo. Ngakho, izinhlangano ezinjalo zinemisebenzi eziyabelwe okufanele ziyenze ekuthuthukiseni izithakazelo zoMbuso.
Kunenzuzo ukuba sibe nezinhlangano ezingokomthetho. Ngokuba nazo, sivumelana nemithetho yendawo neyalelo zwe, njengoba kufunwa yiZwi likaNkulunkulu. (Jeremiya 32:11; Roma 13:1) Izinhlangano ezingokomthetho ziyasiza emsebenzini wethu wokusakaza isigijimi soMbuso ngokunyathelisa amaBhayibheli, izincwadi, omagazini, izincwajana nezinye izinto. Izinhlangano ezinjalo futhi zingamathuluzi angokomthetho okusingatha izindaba eziphathelene nobunikazi bezindawo, imizamo yokusiza, izivumelwano zokusebenzisa izindawo zemihlangano, njalonjalo. Siyazazisa izinkonzo zalezi zinhlangano.
Igama LikaJehova Liyaqokonyiswa
Ngo-1944, iSiphakamiso II somthetho-sisekelo we-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania sachibiyelwa ukuze kugcizelelwe imigomo yale nhlangano. Ngokwalo mthetho-sisekelo, izinjongo zeNhlangano zihlanganisa le njongo eyinhloko: “Ukushumayela ivangeli loMbuso kaNkulunkulu ophethwe nguKristu Jesu ezizweni zonke kube ngubufakazi egameni, ezwini nasekuphakameni kukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke uJEHOVA.”
Kusukela ngo-1926 “isigqila esikholekile” siye saqokomisa igama likaJehova. U-1931 wawuphawuleka ngokukhethekile, lapho abaFundi BeBhayibheli bamukela igama elithi oFakazi BakaJehova. (Isaya 43:10-12) Izincwadi zeNhlangano eziye zagcizelela igama likaNkulunkulu zihlanganisa ethi Jehovah (yango-1934), “Let Your Name Be Sanctified” (yango-1961) nethi “The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah”—How? (yango-1971).
Kumelwe iphawulwe ngokukhethekile INguqulo Yezwe Elisha YemiBhalo Engcwele, eyanyatheliswa yaphelela ngo-1960 ngesiNgisi. Inegama likaJehova kuzo zonke izindawo ezineTetragrammaton emiBhalweni YesiHeberu. Le nguqulo futhi inegama laphezulu ezindaweni ezingu-237 emiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki lapho ukuhlaziya ngokucophelela kwabonisa khona ukuthi liyadingeka. Yeka indlela esibonga ngayo ngokuthi, ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene, uJehova uye wavumela “isigqila” neNdikimba yaso Ebusayo ukuba sisebenzise amathuluzi aso okunyathelisa nezinhlangano ezingokomthetho ekwenzeni igama lakhe laziwe emhlabeni wonke!
Ukuthuthukiswa Kokusakazwa KweZwi LikaNkulunkulu
Abantu bakaJehova bebelokhu befakaza ngegama lakhe futhi besekela iZwi lakhe ngokumemezela nokusakaza izigidi zezincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini kanye neBhayibheli uqobo. Ekuqaleni kwawo-1900, i-Watch Tower Society yaba ngumnikazi wamalungelo okunyathelisa i-Emphatic Diaglott, okuwuhlelo lukaBenjamin Wilson lwe-interlinear yesiGreki nesiNgisi olunemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki. INhlangano yanyathelisa uhlelo lwabaFundi BeBhayibheli lwe-King James Version, olwaluhlanganisa nesithasiselo esingamakhasi angu-500. Ngo-1942 yanyathelisa i-King James Version enezikhombo eziseceleni. Ngo-1944 iNhlangano yabe isiqala ukunyathelisa i-American Standard Version yango-1901, esebenzisa igama laphezulu. Ne-Bible in Living English, kaStephen T. Byington, eyanyatheliswa yiNhlangano ngo-1972, yayinalo igama likaJehova.
Izinhlangano ezingokomthetho ezisetshenziswa oFakazi BakaJehova ziye zasiza ekunyatheliseni nasekusakazeni zonke lezi zinguqulo zeBhayibheli. Nokho, okuphawuleka kakhulu kuye kwaba ukubambisana okuseduze phakathi kwe-Watch Tower Society neqembu loFakazi BakaJehova abagcotshiwe elakha iKomiti Yokuhumusha INguqulo Yezwe Elisha. Siyajabula ngokuthi namuhla sekunyatheliswe amakhophi ale nguqulo angaphezu kuka-106 400 000 aphelele noma ayizingxenye ngezilimi ezingu-38. I-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania iyinhlangano yeBhayibheli ngempela!
“Isigqila esikholekile” siye ‘samiswa phezu kwayo yonke impahla yenkosi yaso.’ Le mpahla ihlanganisa izakhiwo zendlunkulu eseNew York State, e-U.S.A., namagatsha angu-110 asebenza emhlabeni wonke manje. Amalungu esigaba sesigqila ayazi ukuthi kuyodingeka alandise ngendlela aye akusebenzisa ngayo akuphathisiwe. (Mathewu 25:14-30) Nokho, lokhu akusivimbi ‘isigqila’ ekuvumeleni ababonisi abafanelekayo abaphakathi ‘kwezinye izimvu’ ekunakekeleni imithwalo yemfanelo engokomthetho neyokwengamela. Eqinisweni, lokhu kuvumela amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo ukuba asebenzise isikhathi esengeziwe “emthandazweni nasenkonzweni yezwi.”—IzEnzo 6:4.
Uma nje izimo zaleli zwe zisavuma, iNdikimba Ebusayo, emelela “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo,” iyozisebenzisa izinhlangano ezingokomthetho. Zenza izinto zibe lula, kodwa akukhona ukuthi akunakwenziwa lutho ngaphandle kwazo. Uma inhlangano engokomthetho ivalwa ngomthetho kahulumeni, umsebenzi wokushumayela uyoqhubeka. Ngisho namanje, emazweni okubekwe kuwo imingcele futhi okungekho zinhlangano ezingokomthetho ezisetshenziswa kuwo, isigijimi soMbuso siyamenyezelwa, kwenziwa abafundi futhi ukwanda okungokwasezulwini kuyaqhubeka. Lokho kwenzeka ngoba oFakazi BakaJehova bayatshala futhi banisele, bese ‘uNkulunkulu eqhubeka ekhulisa.’—1 Korinte 3:6, 7.
Njengoba sibheke esikhathini esizayo, siyaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyozinakekela izidingo ezingokomoya nezingokwenyama zabantu bakhe. Yena neNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu, bayoqhubeka benikeza isiqondiso nokusekela kwaphezulu okudingekayo ukuze kuphothulwe umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Yiqiniso, noma yini esiyifezayo njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ayenziwa ‘ngempi noma ngamandla, kodwa ngomoya kaJehova.’ (Zakariya 4:6) Ngakho-ke sithandazela usizo lwaphezulu, sazi ukuthi ngamandla anikezwa nguJehova siyokwazi ukuphothula umsebenzi asinike wona kulesi sikhathi sokuphela!