Ukushumayela Ivangeli—Indawo Yakho Ekukhulekeleni Kweqiniso
“Ukukholwa kwenu kungemi ngokuhlakanipha kwabantu, kume ngamandla kaNkulunkulu.”—1 KORINTE 2:5.
1. (a) OFakazi BakaJehova baziwa ngamuphi umsebenzi ezweni lonke? (b) Ubaluleke kangakanani lomsebenzi?
OFAKAZI BAKAJEHOVA baziwa emhlabeni wonke njengabashumayeli bevangeli, okusho ukuthi, izithunywa zezindaba ezinhle. Isazi senhlalo yabantu esiyiNgisi uJ. A. Beckford waphawula lokhu kuSocial Compass kaJanuary 1977: “OFakazi baphakathi kwabavangeli abakhuthele nabanomdlandla nabaguqulela abantu enkolweni ezweni lanamuhla.” Wenezela: “Lesi isizathu esisobala, nokho esinganakwa ngokuvamile, sezinga lokukhula kwenhlangano yeWatchtower.” Kodwa ingabe umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokwenza abafundi uyamthokozisa uJehova? Amaqiniso omlando nawanamuhla aphendula ngoYebo! Ubuvangeli, ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, kuyisisekelo sobuKristu. Kuwuphawu, lwabantu bakaNkulunkulu, lwakudala nolwanamuhla.
2. Yini efezwa ukushumayela ngoMbuso?
2 Yini efezwa ukushunyayelwa koMbuso? Ngokwesibonelo, kusiza umuntu ukuba abonise ngokusobala uthando nokwazisa ngoNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke nendalo yaKhe engabantu. (Mathewu 22:37-39) Futhi okubaluleke kakhulu, ngokushumayela ivangeli abantu batshelwa ngokuhlakanipha kukaJehova okungenakuqhathaniswa kanye namandla amangalisayo.—IzEnzo 1:8; 4:33; Efesu 3:10.
UJehova Usekela Izindaba Ezinhle
3. (a) Kungani uJehova engachazwa njengomvangeli? (b) Izindaba ezinhle zimayelana nobani, futhi kwakuyini ukuthunywa kwakhe?
3 UJehova wayenguMvangeli wokuqala, noma umlethi wezindaba ezinhle. Isiprofetho sakhe sokuqala samemezela izindaba ezinhle zokukhululwa kwesintu esingaphelele nge“nzalo” ethenjisiwe. (Genesise 3:15) Kamuva, ngoIsaya njengomkhulumeli wakhe ongumprofethi, uNkulunkulu wabikezela ukuthi uMesiya, uJesu Kristu, njengoyiNhloko yaleyo“nzalo,” wayeyo‘shumayela izindaba ezinhle kwabathotshisiweyo.’ (Isaya 61:1) Ngakho uJehova wayejonge ukuba uKristu abe umshumayeli wezindaba ezinhle—umvangeli.
4, 5. Izingelosi ziye zasebenza kanjani njengabashumayeli?
4 UJehova uye wathuma abanye ukuba bashumayele izindaba ezinhle. Izidalwa zomoya ezinamandla, izingelosi, ziye zahlanganyela kulomsebenzi ovunyelwe phezulu. Okuthakazelisayo, kokubili ngesiHeberu nangesiGreki igama elithi “ingelosi” lisho ngokuqondile “isithunywa,” kanti igama elithi “umvangeli” lisuka emagameni amabili asho “okuhle” nelithi i“ngelosi” (noma “isithunywa”). Ngokwesibonelo, ingelosi kaNkulunkulu “yalishumayela ngaphambili ivangeli kuAbrahama.” (Galathiya 3:8; Genesise 22:15-18) Lezozindaba ezinhle zazichaza ukuthi inzalo ka-Abrahama yayiyoveza “inzalo” ethenjisiwe, nokuthi zonke izizwe zaziyozibusisa ngale“nzalo.” (Genesise 12:2, 3) Emakhulwini angamashumi amabili kamuva ingelosi uGabriyeli, ikhonza njengomvangeli, yamemezela kuZakariya ukuzalwa kukaJohane uMbhapathizi, ngokuthi: “Ngithunyiwe ukuba ngikhulume kuwe, ngikubikele lezizindaba ezinhle.” UJohane uMbhapathizi walungiselela indlela yalowo oyinhloko ye“nzalo” ka-Abrahama, uJesu Kristu.—Luka 1:19.
5 Esebenza njengomvangeli futhi, uGabriyeli wabonakala kuMariya emlethele izindaba ezinhle zokuzalwa kukaJesu. (Luka 1:26-38) Ezinyangeni ezithile, abelusi bethuswa umvangeli oyingelosi ememezela: “Ningesabi; ngokuba bhekani, nginibikela izindaba ezinhle zokuthokoza okukhulu okuzakuba kubantu bonke.” Khona-ke lengelosi yajoyinwa isixuku sezidalwa zomoya ziqinisekisa lesisigijimi sezindaba ezinhle. (Luka 2:8-14) Ubufakazi obumangalisayo bamandla kaNkulunkulu okusekela izindaba ezinhle ngezingelosi abuzange bunqamuke ngokuzalwa kweNdodana yakhe kodwa baqhubeka kusuka emlandweni wekhulu lokuqala webandla lobuKristu. Ingelosi yakhulula abaphostoli ababeboshiwe futhi yabayala: “Nikhulume . . . kubantu.” (IzEnzo 5:20) Ukuqondisa kwezingelosi kwakunikezwa ukuze kutholakale abathakazelayo nokusiza izinceku zikaNkulunkulu. (IzEnzo 8:26; 10:3; 12:7-12) Futhi umphostoli uJohane, ngokuphefumlelwa owachaza izenzakalo “ngosuku lweNkosi,” wabona ‘ingelosi indiza emkhathini wezulu, inevangeli eliphakade ukuba ilishumayele’—ngalokho yengamela ukusakazwa kwesigijimi soMbuso embulungeni yonke okwenziwa izinceku zikaJehova zasemhlabeni.—IsAmbulo 1:10; 14:6.
Isabelo SikaKristu: Shumayela!
6. (a) Isiphi isisekelo esabeka uJesu sokumenyezelwa kwezindaba ezinhle? (b) UJesu wakuqinisekisa kanjani ukuthi umsebenzi wokushumayela wawuyoqhubeka ngemva kokufa kwakhe?
6 Kungani ibandla lokuqala lobuKristu lalinesibindi futhi lishiseka kangaka ekufakazeni kwalo? Kungoba uKristu, njengoMsunguli, wasebenzisa ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu namandla ukuze akhele kuye inhlangano eqinile yabavangeli. UKristu wakwenza lokhu ngezindlela ezimbili. Okokuqala, wagcwalisa isabelo sakhe siqu ‘sokushumayela izindaba ezinhle kwabathobileyo.’ (Isaya 61:1) Futhi okwesibili, yena ngokwakhe waqeqesha abangane bakhe abaseduze abayi-12 ukuba bashumayele futhi wabuye waqeqesha abanye abangama-70. Kanjalo uKristu wamisa umnyombo oqinile wabashumayeli ukuba baqhubeke nomsebenzi wobuvangeli ngemva kokufa kwakhe.—Mathewu 10:5-42; Luka 10:1-16.
7. Ekuletheni izindaba ezinhle kubantu, ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu kuye kwehluka kanjani ekuhlakanipheni kwabantu?
7 UJesu wayeyindoda ekhuthele ekushumayeleni ngoMbuso. Wayematasa eshumayela ngoba wayazi ukuthi abantu babedinga ukuzwa izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu—uhulumeni omusha wasezulwini oyoletha ukuthula okungapheliyo emhlabeni futhi ususe konke okubangela usizi. Ngakho ngemva kokuqeda uhambo lokushumayela emizini nemizana futhi ebona isimo esidabukisayo esingokomoya sabantu, wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Ukuvuna kukhulu, kodwa izisebenzi ziyingcosana; ngakho-ke nxusani eNkosini yokuvuna ukuba ithume izisebenzi, ziye ekuvuneni kwayo.” (Mathewu 9:37, 38) Ngokushesha uJesu waqala ukugcwalisa isicelo esinjalo. Omunye wemiyalo yakhe yokuqala kubaphostoli wawuthi: “Ekuhambeni kwenu shumayelani nithi: Umbuso wezulu ususondele.” Ukushumayela kubantu, kwakuyisaga sakhe. Ukuze kududuzwe isintu esikhathazekile, ukuhlakanipha kwabantu kwakungase kuyaleze ukuba kumiswe isimiso semithetho nenqubo kahulumeni senhlalo yabantu noma isigungu somshoshaphansi sokugumbuqela uhulumeni ukuze kufezwe lomsebenzi; kodwa uKristu wabonisa ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu. Kwakuwukuthi nje: “Ekuhambeni kwenu shumayelani.”—Mathewu 10:7.
8. Kwaba yini ukusabela kukaKristu lapho abafundi bakhe bebuya ekushumayeleni kwabo, futhi ngani?
8 Ngemva kokunikeza lezoziyalezo, uJesu wakhuluma nabanye futhi wabatshela ukuba bashumayele nabo. Lapho labashumayeli bebuya nombiko wokuphumelela, uJesu wajabula kakhulu futhi wathi: “Ngiyakubonga, Baba, Nkosi yezulu nomhlaba, ngokuba ukufihlile lokho kwabahlakaniphileyo nabanokuqo nda, wakwambulela izingane.” (Luka 10:21) Lezo“zingane” zazingabafundi bakaKristu asebebadala, futhi ukushumayela ivangeli kwakuyithuluzi labo lokwembula iqiniso likaNkulunkulu kwabanye. Ngakho-ke, kwakungekhona ukuhlakanipha kwabantu noma amandla okwamisa ngokuqinile ubuKristu beqiniso, kodwa kwakuwukuhlakanipha kwaphezulu namandla njengoba eboniswa ngokushumayela ngoMbuso.
Bonke Abafundi Bashumayela
9. Nikeza izibonelo ngendlela izazimlando ezibonisa ngayo ukuthi isisekelo sobuKristu bakuqala sasiwukushumayela ngoMbuso.
9 Uma ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kuwumsebenzi oyisisekelo wobuKristu, khona-ke wonke amaKristu okuqala kumelwe ukuba ayengabashumayeli. Ingabe kunjalo? Yebo! kuphendula umlando. Phawula okushiwo yilezizincwadi ezikhonjiwe ngamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala:
“Noma imuphi futhi wonke amaKristu ngalezozinsuku, ‘ayeyizithunywa zevangeli.’”—History of Western Civilization.
“Lomsebenzi wobuthunywa wokuqala ubonisa ukuthi ibutho lezithunywa lokuqala lalingebona abaPhostoli kuphela. Kunalokho, wonke amaKristu ayehilelekile.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.
“Isifiso sokufakaza ngokholo lwakhe nangendlela yokuphila siwuphawu olulindelekile lomKristu ngamunye.”—Encyclopedia Americana.
10. (a) Kunini lapho ibandla lobuKristu laba inhlangano yabashumayeli? (b) Isiphi isipho esimangalisayo uNkulunkulu asinikeza amaKristu akuqala, futhi ngayiphi injongo?
10 Kusukela esikhathini sokuba khona kwebandla lobuKristu ngo-33 C.E., kwakuyinhlangano yabashumayeli. Amalungu ayo okuqala cishe abafundi abayi-120 awachithanga sikhathi ekubeni abashumayeli boMbuso. Umlando waphezulu ubika ukuthi “base begcwala bonke uMoya oNgcwele, baqala ukukhuluma.” Siza uphawule ukuthi bonke, hhayi nje abathile, baqala ukukhuluma “ngemisebenzi emikhulu kaNkulunkulu.” (IzEnzo 2:4, 11) Lokhu kwakuwubufakazi bamandla nokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu kufaka kulabakhulekeli abalalelayo ikhono elimangalisayo lokufakaza ngezilimi ababengazange bazifunde esikoleni. Isimangaliso samisa ibandla lobuKristu esisekelweni sokumemezela izindaba ezinhle.
11. UPetru wakugcizelela kanjani ukuthi wonke amaKristu kumelwe abe abashumayeli?
11 Kamuva ngalolosuku uPetru wasebenzisa isiprofetho sikaJoweli ebandleni lobuKristu elalisanda kumiswa: “Kuyakuthi ezinsukwini zokuphela, kusho uNkulunkulu, ngiyakuthulula uMoya wami phezu kwayo yonke inyama; amadodana enu namadodakazi enu ayakuprofetha, izinsizwa zenu zibone imibono, abadala benu baphuphe amaphupho; yebo, naphezu kwezinceku zami nezincekukazi zami ngiyakuthulula uMoya wami ngaleyomihla, ziyakuprofetha.” (IzEnzo 2:17, 18; Joweli 2:28, 29) Wonke amaKristu ayemelwe abe abashumayeli bevangeli. Amadoda, abesifazane ngisho nentsha yayiyoba nengxenye ekhuthele ekuprofetheni noma ekumemezeleni, ekukhulumeni, ekuqaphuzeni ngesigijimi sikaNkulunkulu sezindaba ezinhle.
Ukushumayela Kuhlanganisa Isixwayiso
12. Kungani isigijimi soMbuso kaNkulunkulu singezona izindaba ezinhle kuwo wonke umuntu?
12 Isigijimi soMbuso kaNkulunkulu asizona izindaba ezinhle kuwo wonke umuntu, ngoba sihlanganisa isixwayiso sembubhiso. Isimiso samanje esonakele nabo bonke abasisekelayo kumelwe basuke uma izindaba ezinhle zizoba nanoma iyiphi inzuzo ehlala njalo. (IzAga 21:18) Abakhulekeli bakaJehova abaqotho abanakuwuguqula lomhlaba ube yipharadesi uma iminonjana yobubi isasele ukuba ingcolise ubuhle bawo. UMsekeli wezindaba ezinhle wanikeza umyalo ‘wokungamemezeli umnyaka womusa kaJehova’ kuphela kodwa futhi nokume mezela “usuku lokuphindisela lukaNkulunkulu wethu.” (Isaya 61:2) Ngokufanayo, isigijimi senye yezingelosi ezishiwo esAmbulweni sihlanganisa lamazwi: “Mesabeni uNkulunkulu, nimnike inkazimulo, ngokuba ihora lokwahlulela kwakhe selifikile.”—IsAmbulo 14:7.
13. (a) Imuphi umbono maqondana nokushumayela amaKristu okuqala ayenawo? (b) Ngokusebenzisa umbhalo, bonisa indlela amaKristu akuqala ayenombono wokuphuthuma ngayo.
13 AmaKristu ekhulu lokuqala asakaza izindaba ezinhle ngendlela eshesha ngangokunokwenzeka enombono wokuphuthuma. Lesisici sezindaba ezinhle saphawula amaKristu akuqala ngokufanayo. “Ukulindela kwamaKristu isikhathi sokuphela akuzange kuhlanganise nje ukulangazelela okungenamsebenzi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ozayo” kodwa “esikhundleni salokho kwaboniswa ekukhuthaleni okungakholeki nasekushesheni kwemizamo yokulungiselela izwe ukubuya kukaKristu noMbuso ozayo,” kusho iEncyclopaedia Brltannica. Amabandla ayeyalwa njalo ngokuba seduze kokuphela nesidingo sokuba abe ngakulungele. Abaphostoli baqonda ukuthi ukushumayela ngemibiko ephuthumayo kwakuyingxenye edingekayo yobuKristu ukuze bonke abantu bafinyelelwe ngaphambi kokuba usuku lukaNkulunkulu lwempindiselo lufike. Ngenxa yalokho, ubuKristu bakhula ngokushesha.—Roma 10:13, 14; 1 Thesalonika 5:2, 6; 2 Petru 3:11-14.
14, 15. Umfutho wokushumayela ivangeli uye waba nethonya kanjani emlandweni?
14 Ngisho nakuba izwi elikhanyayo lesigijimi soMbuso lambozwa futhi laphendukezelwa ngemva kwekhulu lokuqala, ukulindela ukuphela kwakulokhu kungamandla. Ngokwesibonelo, ngokwezinye izazi zomlando, uhambo lwekhulu le-15 lukaColumbus lokuya entshonalanga nenkabazwe lwaluthe ukuthonywa inkolo yokuthi i-India kumelwe ifinyelelwe ngokushesha ngezindaba ezinhle ngaphambi kokuba uKristu abuye. Kamuva ukuthutha kwabantu, njengokuthutha kwamaPuritan ngekhulu le-17, ukuthutha kwamaBaptist ngekhulu le-18, nokuya kwamaQuakers namaMethodist eMelika, nokuthutha kwamaJalimane ngekhulu le-18 nele-19 eya eRashiya nasePalestine kwakushukunyiswa imibono efanayo.
15 Ngakho-ke, kungashiwo ylnl ukuthi umsebenzi wokushumayela owaqalwa uJesu Kristu uye waba nemiphumela efinyelela kude nehlala njalo? Umlando uphendula ngoYebo. Nakuba umfutho wokushumayela wawungaqondiswa ngaso sonke isikhathi njengoba uKristu ayala, nokho ithonya lawo emhlabeni lalilikhulu. IEncyclopædia Britannica iphetha ukuhlaziya kwayo ngo“buKristu” ngalamazwi: “UbuKristu bungamandla angokomoya aye athonya umlando womuntu ngokunamandla kakhulu futhi okungenzeka awushintsha ngokujule kakhulu kunanoma isiphi esinye isici.”
Ukushumayela Ivangeli Kwanamuhla
16. (a) Isiphi isiphetho esingafinyelelwa maqondana namaKristu ekhulu lokuqala? (b) Imuphi umbuzo ongabuzwa ngokuqondene nokufakaza kwanamuhla?
16 Ukuhlolwa kwalemibhalo yomlando yaphezulu nasemhlabeni kuveza isiphetho esisodwa esibalulekile: Wonke amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayengabashumayeli. Ukuze umuntu abe umKristu futhi ahlale enguye, kwakudingeka ashumayele njalo. Khona-ke namuhla, ingabe lena kuye kwaba indlela eyisidala, nedinayo yokukhulekela, engahlabimxhwele ngokwesimanje? Mhlawumbe ngokucabanga kwabantu kodwa hhayi ngokukaNkulunkulu.—IzAga 16:25; Jeremiya 8:9.
17. OFakazi BakaJehova baye balulondoloza kanjani uphawu lweqiniso lokushumayela ivangeli?
17 Umlando wanamuhla woFakazi BakaJehova ubonisa ukuthi baye bakubuyisela ngokugcwele ukumenyezelwa okuyiqiniso nokukhanyayo kwesigijimi sezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Ekulaleleni umyalo kaKristu bamatasa emsebenzini omkhulu kakhulu wokushumayela ivangeli. Ukufakaza emhlabeni wonke kumelwe kwenziwe ngaphambi kokuba ukuphela kwalesimiso kufike. (Mathewu 24:14) Eminyakeni eyi-100 edlule oFakazi BakaJehova baye badonsela ukunakekela okukhulu kulokhu. INqabayokulinda yokuqala, isabizwa ngokuthi iZion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, yayichaza kanje injongo yayo:
“Lena eyokuqala yomqulu wokuqala we‘Zion’s Watch Tower,’ futhi akukhona okungalungile ukusho injongo yokukhishwa kwayo. Ukuthi siphila ‘ezinsukwini zokugcina’ . . . futhi sifisela ukuba ‘indlu yokholo’ iliphaphamele ngokugcwele leliqiniso.”—July 1879.
Kamuva, ngo-1884, oFakazi BakaJehova njengenhlangano yabashumayeli bahlela inhlangano. Injongo yayo yayihlelwe engxenyeni yesibili yencwadi yayo yesisekelo ngalamazwi:
“Injongo yokubunjwa kwalenhlangano, iwukwsakaza amaqiniso eBhayibheli ngezilimi ezihlukene ngokunyathelisa amapheshana, omagazini, amaphepha nezinye izincwadi zenkolo, futhi ngazo zonke izindlela ezisemthethweni.”
Ingabe lamathuluzi aye agcwalisa injongo yawo eyamenyezelwa? Umlando uphendula ngoYebo.
18. Umsebenzi wokushumayela wabantu bakaJehova uye wakudonsa kanjani ukunakekela kwezwe lonke?
18 Umsebenzi wokushumayela woFakazi BakaJehova uye waqashelwa yizwe lonke. Liye lawuphawula futhi labhala ngawo emaphephandabeni, ezincwadini ezinkulu zezinkantolo zokwahlulela nezomlando. Kusukela kuNqabayokulinda yokuqala ngolimi olulodwa, lapho kunyatheliswa amakhophi ayizi-6 000 ngenyanga, kuya emakhophini ayizi-10 050 000 manje anyatheliswa ngezilimi eziyi-102, ukusakazwa kwayo kuye kwaba okukhulu kakhulu kunanoma iliphi iphephandaba lenkolo. Kusukela ezinkulungwaneni ezimbalwa zamahora achithwa unyaka ngamunye emsebenzini wokushumayela ekhulwini le-19 ukukhula kuye kwaba okumangalisayo. Ngo-1982 amahora angaphezu kwezigidi ezingama-384 asetshenziselwa umsebenzi wokushumayela, kwahanjiswa izincwadi eziyizigidi ezingama-286, futhi imikhaya engaphezu kwesigidi nengxenye yathola isifundo seBhayibheli mahhala emazweni angama-205 namasimu. Konke lokhu kuye kwenziwa inani elincane kakhulu labantu—izi-2 477 608 ngo-1982.
19. (a) Obani oFakazi BakaJehova abamdumisayo ngempumelelo yomsebenzi wabo wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke? (b) Uma ungumvangeli, yini okumelwe uyenze, ngokukaMathewu 10:7?
19 Ingabe oFakazi BakaJehova bazibonga bona ngokwabo ngamakhono abo okuhlakanipha namandla ngalomsebenzi omangalisayo? Qha. Lonke udumo luya kuNkulunkulu wethu ohlakaniphile nonamandla, uJehova, uMvangeli wokuqala. Ngakho yini ozoyenza? Uma ubona ukushunyayelwa kwevangeli ekukhule keleni kweqiniso futhi ufisela ngobuqotho ukuthokozisa uJehova, khona-ke njalonje, isonto ngalinye, shumayela, noma njengoba uJesu asho: “EKUHAMBENI KWENU SHUMAYELANI!”—Mathewu 10:7.
Ungayiphendula Lemibuzo—
□ UJehova uye wakusekela kanjani ukumenyezelwa kwezindaba ezinhle?
□ Iyiphi indima izingelosi eziye zaba nayo ekumenyezelweni kwezindaba ezinhle?
□ Yimuphi umsebenzi uJesu Kristu ayematasa kuwo?
□ Kungani kungashiwo ukuthi ukuze umuntu abe umKristu weqiniso kumelwe abe umshumayeli wevangeli?
□ Yiliphi ithemba elahlala liqinile kubalandeli beqiniso bakaKristu?
□ OFakazi BakaJehova namuhla bazibonisa kanjani bengabashumayeli bevangeli beqiniso?
[Isithombe ekhasini 9]
Abashumayeli bevangeli basezulwini nabasemhlabeni bayabambisana ukuze lezindaba ezinhle zishunyayelwe