Bwina Kilishitu Butanshi ne Balesa ba Bena Loma
MU NKALATA yo anembejile Mfumu Trajan wa bena Loma, Pliny the Younger, wajinga ndamakyalo wa mu Bitinya waambile’mba: “Abino byo byo naubanga pa mambo a boba bo bashiinanga ne amiwa saka njipo amba bena Kilishitu. Nebepuzhanga umvwe bajinga bena Kilishitu, kabiji umvwe baitaba, nebepuzhanga ja bubiji ne ja busatu na kwibazakamisha namba nsakwibakambula. Umvwe bakosako na kwamba amba bena Kilishitu, nakambizhanga kwibepaya.” Bino pa mambo a boba bakaine bwina Kilishitu kupichila mu kufinga Kilishitu ne kupopwela kipashañano kya mfumu ne balesa bakwabo bo aletele Pliny mu kije kya mambo, wanembele’mba: “Nebalekangako baya.”
Bena Kilishitu batanshi bebamanyikanga na mambo a kukana kupopwela mfumu ne bipashañano bya balesa bapusana pusana. Pano kyajinga byepi ku bupopweshi bukwabo bwa mu Bufumu bonse bwa bena Loma? Balesa ka bo bapopwelanga, kabiji bena Loma bebamonanga byepi? Mambo ka bena Kilishitu o bebamanyikilanga pa kukana kupana bitapisho ku balesa ba bena Loma? Mikumbu ya ano mepuzho isakwitukwasha ne atweba kuyuka mwakubila na bintu pa kuba’mba tulame bukishinka bwetu kwi Yehoba.
Bupopweshi Bwajinga mu Bobwa Bufumu
Balesa bapusana pusana bo bapopwelanga mu Bufumu bonse bwa bena Loma bavujile bingi kwesakanatu na milaka ne bisho byaubiwanga. Nangwa kya kuba bupopweshi bwa Bayudea bwakonsheshe kumweka nobe bwenyi ku bena Loma, bebumwenenga kuba’mba ke bupopweshi bwayukanyikwa, kabiji bebuzhikijile. Mu nzubo ya Lesa mu Yelusalema, bapananga jibiji pa juba mikooko ibiji ne ñombe mulume ke bitapisho kwi Kesala ne ku kyalo kyonse kya bena Loma. Kikale bino bitapisho byasangajikanga lesa umo nangwa bavula, ku bena Loma byajinga byatu. Kyanemenekotu kwi abo ke kya kuba amba, kuno kupana kwamwesheshe amba Bayudea bajinga bakishinka ku bena Loma.
Mpopwelo ya buntunshi yaubiwanga mu mashinda avula yakumbene bingi mu bupopweshi bwajingako. Bisho bya Bangiliki byakumbene bingi ku bavula, kubikakotu ne kuponga. Bupopweshi bwa kupopwela mipashi bwaubiwanga ku Musela wa kyalo bwalayile bantu babo kuba’mba bakekala na bumi bwa kubula kufwa, kumona bimwesho, ne kumona balesa kupichila mu jishinda ja mipashi. Buno bupopweshi bwakumbene mu bufumu bonse. Bupopweshi bwakumbene mu myaka kitota kitanshi bwajinga bwa kupopwela lesa wa bena Ijipita aye Serapis ne lesa wamukazhi Isis, lesa wamukazhi jisabi wa bena Silya aye Atargatis, ne lesa wa juba Mithra wa bena Pelisha.
Buku wa mu Baibolo wa Byubilo bya Batumwa wamweshatu patoka byajinga bupopweshi bwa bubela bwazhokolokele bena Kilishitu batanshi. Kyakumwenako, mukulumpe wa kyalo kya mu Loma ku Kipilusa wichiine kala na mwina Yudea wamubulangako maana bya kuba. (Byu. 13:6, 7) Mu Lisitila bantu baikalangamo bamwene amba Paulo ne Banabasa bajinga balesa ba Bangiliki ba Mekulyusa ne Yupita. (Byu. 14:11-13) Paulo byo ajinga mu Filipai, wasambakene na kamwale wabukanga. (Byu. 16:16-18) Mu Atene mutumwa waambile’mba bangikazhi bajingamo ‘bakizhizhemo kupandawila balesa.’ Mu yewa muzhi Paulo wamwene ne kipandawilo po banembele amba ‘Kwi Lesa Wabula Kuyukanyika.’ (Byu. 17:22, 23) Bangikazhi ba mu Efisesa bapopwelanga lesa wamukazhi Diana. (Byu. 19:1, 23, 24, 34) Pa jikuji ja Melita, bantu bamutelele Paulo amba lesa, mambo kechi waumvwinepo kukola byo bamusumine ku muloolo ne. (Byu. 28:3-6) Mu byobya bimye, bena Kilishitu bafwainwe kujimuka ku bintu byakonsheshe kwibongola ku mpopwela yabo yatoka.
Bupopweshi bwa Bena Loma
Bufumu bwabo byo bwabayilenga, bena Loma batendekele ne kupopwela balesa bangi bo bamwenenga, mambo baketekejile amba bo balesa bantutu bamo bo bayukile, baishijiletu mu musango ungi. Mu kifulo kya kufumyamo buno bupopweshi bungi, bena Loma bebwitabizhe ne kutendeka kwibupopwela. Mu jino jishinda, bupopweshi bwa bena Loma bwanemene byonkatu byanemene bisho byajingamo. Bupopweshi bwa bena Loma kechi bo bwakijilemo kunema ne. Bantu bakonsheshe kupopwela balesa bavula pa kimyetu kimo.
Mu balesa ba bena Loma, ye bamonanga amba wakijilemo kunema kabiji wawamine ne kwikala mukatampe pa bonse wajinga Yupita, watelwanga amba Optimus Maximus. Balangulukanga amba wamwekelanga mu mwela, mu mvula, mu kapenyi ne mu kululuma kwa mvula. Nyenga ya kwa Yupita, aye Juno, wajinga kipi kipi ne aye, waketekejilwe amba ye walamanga myeo ya banabakazhi bonse. Mwananji wamukazhi Minerva ye wajinga lesa wakwashanga mingilo ya bya kubumba bumba, mingilo ya bushayuka, mingilo ya manono ne nkondo.
Bena Loma baketekejile mu balesa bavula bingi. Lares ne Penates bo bajinga balesa ba mu bisemi. Vesta wajinga lesa wamukazhi wa mujilo. Janus wajinga na bilungi bibiji bivundamina ye wajinga lesa wa ntendekelo yonse. Mwingilo yense wa busendwe watangijilwanga na lesa. Bena Loma baketekejile kuba’mba balesa babo bo batundaikanga byubilo. Baketekejile amba Pax walamawizhanga mutende, Salus walengelanga bantu kwikala na butuntulu bwa mubiji bwawama, Pudicitia walengelanga bantu kwipelula ne kwikala na byubilo byawama, Fides waletanga bukishinka, Virtus walengelanga bantu kuchinchika, kabiji Voluptas waletanga lusekelo. Byonse bintu byaubanga bena Loma pa mvula bantu ne mu bufyamfya byatangijilwanga na balesa. Pa kuba’mba bintu byende bulongo mu bwikalo, muntu wafwainwe kutokesha lesa pa muchima kupichila mu kulomba lulombelo lwa mwayijile bisho, bitapisho, ne bijiilo.
Jishinda jimo jo bayukilangamo kyaswa muchima wa balesa jajinga ja kumona biyukilo. Kisho kikatampe kyo balondelanga kyajinga kya kumona byajinga bya munda bya banyama bo batapishanga. Balangulukanga amba kumonatu biji bino bya munda ne byo bimweka kyo kyamweshanga kana bano balesa bakaine nangwa kwitabizha bino bitapisho.
Ku mpelo ya myaka kitota kya bubiji B.C.E., bena Loma batendekele kwivwanga ne mu bupopweshi bwa balesa ba Bangiliki kabiji baitabijile amba Yupita wajinga Zeus, Juno wajinga Hera, kabiji ne bakwabotu. Kabiji bena Loma batendekele ne kuba bisho bya balesa ba Bangiliki. Bino bisho kechi byajinga bya kujimbaikilamo balesa bajinga na bilubo bintutu bimo byajingapo na bantu ne. Kyakumwenako, Yupita bamumwesheshe kwikala lesa ukunañana waubanga bulalelale na bantu ne mipashi. Bino byubilo bya bunya bya balesa byalengelanga bantu bebapopwelanga nabo kulanguluka amba nabo bafwainwe kubanga byonka bino.
Kampe bantu bachechetu bafunjile sukulu wa ku mubiji bo baitabijile mu bino bisho kya kine. Bamo bebimonanga amba bipashañano. Kino kyakonsha kumwekela mu bwipuzho bwaipwizhe Pontiusa Pilato bwa kuba’mba “bukine bo buka?” (Yoa. 18:38) Bebumvwina mu jishinda ja kuba’mba “ke milangulukotu yayukanyikwa ya bantu bafunda, kya kuba’mba kechi kyapela ne kuyuka bukine bwine ne.”
Kupopwela Mfumu
Kimye kya bukalama bwa kwa Augusatusa (kufuma mu 27 B.C.E. kufika mu 14 C.E.) kyo kyo batendekejilemo bantu kupopwela mfumu. Kikatakata mu bibunji bya ku Musela mwaambiwanga milaka ya Bangiliki, bavula bamusanchijile kya kine Augusatusa, na mambo a kuleta bukomo ne mutende panyuma ya kupitapo kimye kyabaya kya nkondo. Bantu bakebelenga kutwajijila na kwibazhikijila ku muntu ye bafwainwe kumonanga na meso. Bakebelenga kipamo kyafwainwe kupwisha misalululo mu bupopweshi, ne kutundaika bantu kutemwa kyalo kyabo, ne kukwatankanya ntanda na ‘muntu wakonsheshe kwiilama bulongo.’ Mu jino jishinda, uno mfumu waikele ke lesa.
Nangwa kya kuba Augusatusa kechi waswishishe bantu kumutela amba lesa kimye kyo ajinga mumi ne, pano bino wakambizhe amba bapopwelenga lesa mwanamukazhi wa bena Loma wa jizhina ja Roma Dea. Augusatusa byo afwile, po po bamutelele amba lesa. Mushingi wafumanga ku bupopweshi ne ku kyalo wayanga ku bufumu ne ku bakalamatu. Kuno kupopwela mfumu kwakumbene ku bibunji byonse, kabiji kwaikele jishinda ja kupainamo mushingi ne kumwesheshamo bukishinka ku Bufumu.
Domitian walamine kufuma mu 81 C.E. kufika mu 96 C.E., ye mfumu mutanshi wa bena Loma wakambizhe kuba amba ekale ke lesa bamupopwelenga. Kimye kyo alaminenga, bena Loma saka bapusanya kala bena Kilishitu ne Bayudea kabiji bakaine mulanguluko wa bupopweshi bwasombelwe. Kyamweka nobe mu bukalama bwa kwa Domitian, mutumwa Yoano mo mo bamukashile pa jikuji ja Patamosa na mambo a “busapwishi bwa Yesu.”—Lum. 1:9.
Buku wa Lumwekesho wanembelwe kimye Yoano kyo bamukashile. Byo ajinga kokwa, waambile pe Antipasa wajinga mwina Kilishitu ye baipaijile mu Pelegamuma muzhi wanema mo bapopwelanga mfumu. (Lum. 2:12, 13) Pa kyokya kimye, kafulumende watendekele kukambizha bena Kilishitu kubako bisho byaubiwanga mu bupopweshi bwa Bufumu. Kikale kino kyaubiwenga nangwa ne, mu 112 C.E., byonka byo kyanembwa mu nkalata yanembejilwe Trajan waambiwapo kuntendekelo ya uno mutwe, Pliny wakambizhenga amba bena Kilishitu ba mu Bitinya bobengako bino bisho.
Trajan wamutakaikile bingi Pliny pa mambo a jishinda jo apwishishangamo mambo o bamuletelanga, kabiji wakambizhe kwipaya bena Kilishitu bakananga kupopwela balesa ba bena Loma. Trajan wanembele amba: “Pano bino umvwe muntu wakana kwikala mwina Kilishitu, kabiji wamweshatu ne patoka kuba’mba kine wakana kupichila mu kuswa balesa betu, wafwainwa kulekelwa mambo panyuma ya kulapila.”
Bena Loma kechi bakonsheshe kuswa bupopweshi bwakebelenga bantu babo kulondelatu bintu byo bwafunjishenga ne. Inge kya kuba balesa ba bena Loma bakaine, nga Lesa wa bena Kilishitu wakonsheshe kuswa byepi? Balangulukile kuba’mba kupopwela balesa ba Bufumu kwamwesheshenga kuba’mba banemekele bumulwilantanda. Onkao mambo, kukana kupopwela bano balesa bekumonanga amba popamotu ne kusatukila kyalo. Kwesakana na bikimwene Pliny, kechi kyafwainwe kukanjikizha bena Kilishitu kukokela uno mukambizho ne. Mambo ku bena Kilishitu kuba bino kwakonsheshe kumwesha kubula bukishinka kwi Yehoba, kabiji bena Kilishitu batanshi bavula basakanga kufwa kukila kupopwela mfumu.
Twakonsha kufunjilako ka lelo jino? Mu byalo bimo, bangikazhi bebambila kupana mushingi ku bipashañano bya kyalo. Byo tuji bena Kilishitu, tunemeka buntangi bwa makafulumende a bantu. (Loma 13:1) Pano bino umvwe kwaikala bya kusekelela byavwangamo kupana mushingi ku mabandela a kyalo, twatundaikwa ne Yehoba Lesa kumwingijilatu aye yenka ne kulondela lujimuno luji mu Mambo anji lwa kuba’mba, “chinai kupopwela bankishi,” ne ‘kwilama [atweba bene] ku bankishi.’ (1 Ko. 10:14; 1 Yoa. 5:21; Na. 1:2) Yesu waambile’mba: “Ukapopwela Nkambo Lesa wobe ne kumwingijila aye yenka.” (Luka 4:8) Onkao mambo, twayai tutwajijile kwikala bakishinka kwi Lesa ye tupopwela.
[Mabulañano pa peja 5]
Bena Kilishitu bakine bapopwelatu Yehoba yenka kwapwa
[Bipikichala pa peja 3]
Bena Kilishitu batanshi bakananga kupopwela mfumu nangwa bipashañano bya balesa babubela
Mfumu Domitian
Yupita
[Byambo bya Muntu Ungi]
Mfumu Domitian: Todd Bolen/Bible Places.com; Zeus: Photograph by Todd Bolen/Bible Places.com, taken at Archaeological Museum of Istanbul
[Kipikichala pa peja 4]
Bena Kilishitu batanshi mu Efisesa bakananga kupopwela lesa wamukazhi wayile nkuwa, aye Diana.—Byu. 19:23-41