Abo bose bavuga ko ari abakirisu boba ari abakirisu koko?

KW’ISI hari abakirisu bangahe? Hari igitabu kimwe cerekana ingene abakirisu bakwiragiye kw’isi (Atlas of Global Christianity) kivuga ko mu 2010 kw’isi yose hari abakirisu nk’imiliyaridi 2 n’imiliyoni 300. Ariko ico gitabu nyene cerekana yuko abo bakirisu bari mu madini arenga 41.000, rimwerimwe ryose rikagira inyigisho zaryo n’amategeko yaryo agenga inyifato. Uravye ico gitigiri giteye ubwoba c’amadini avuga ko ari aya gikirisu, ntibitangaje kubona bamwebamwe mu bavyihweza bibavuruga umutwe canke mbere bikabavuna umutima. Boshobora kwibaza bati: ‘Abavuga ko ari abakirisu bose, boba ari abakirisu koko?’

Reka twihweze ico kibazo mu bundi buryo. Mu bisanzwe, ku mupaka ingenzi irasabwa kuvuga ubwenegihugu bwayo. Irasabwa kandi kwerekana ko ifise nya bwenegihugu mu kwerekana ibiyiranga, nk’akarorero igitabu c’inzira. N’umukirisu w’ukuri ntavuga gusa ko yizera Kristu. Arakenera kuba afise ibindi bintu bimuranga. Uti ivyo vyoba ari ibihe?

Ijambo “umukirisu” ryatanguye gukoreshwa ari bwo bwa mbere inyuma yo mu 44 G.C. (G.C. bisobanura “mu Gihe Cacu”). Wa mutohozakahise w’ivya Bibiliya Luka yanditse ati: “I Antiyokiya ni ho abigishwa batanguriye kwitwa abakirisu bivuye ku Mana.” (Ivyakozwe 11:26) Urabona ko abo biswe abakirisu bari abigishwa ba Kristu. Ni igiki none gituma umuntu aba umwigishwa wa Yezu Kristu? Kazinduzi imwe y’amajambo akoreshwa mw’Isezerano rishasha (The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology) isigura iti: “Gukurikira Yezu uri umwigishwa wiwe bisobanura kwitanga wese . . . ukitanga ubuzima bwawe bwose.” Umukirisu w’ukuri rero ni uwukurikira inyigisho n’amategeko vya Yezu, Umwe yashinga ubukirisu, akabigira atiziganya.

Abantu nk’abo boba bashobora kuboneka mu bantu benshi bavuga ko ari abakirisu muri iki gihe? Ni ibiki Yezu ubwiwe yavuze ko vyoranze abayoboke biwe b’ukuri? Turakuremesheje wihweze inyishu Bibiliya itanga kuri ivyo bibazo. Mu biganiro bikurikira, turaca irya n’ino ibintu bitanu Yezu yavuze biranga abayoboke biwe b’ukuri kandi bidufasha kubamenya. Turaza kwihweza ukuntu abakirisu bo mu kinjana ca mbere bashitsa ivyo bintu. Vyongeye, mu bantu benshi bavuga ko ari abakirisu muri iki gihe, turaza kugerageza kuraba aboba babishitsa abo ari bo.

‘Nimugume mw’ijambo ryanje’

“Nimwaguma mw’ijambo ryanje, muri abigishwa banje vy’ukuri, kandi muzomenya ukuri, kandi ukuri kuzobagira abidegemvya.”​—YOHANI 8:31, 32.

Ivyo bisobanura iki? Iryo “jambo” rya Yezu ni inyigisho yigishije, zino akaba yazikuye ku wumuruta. Yezu yavuze ati: “Data ubwiwe yandungitse ni we yampaye ibwirizwa ry’ivyo ntegerezwa kumenyesha n’ivyo ntegerezwa kuvuga.” (Yohani 12:49) Igihe yariko arasenga Se wiwe wo mw’ijuru Yehova Imana, yavuze ati: “Ijambo ryawe ni ukuri.” Yezu yarakunda gusubiramwo ibivugwa mw’Ijambo ry’Imana igihe yaba ariko arigisha. (Yohani 17:17; Matayo 4:4, 7, 10) Abakirisu b’ukuri rero ‘baguma mw’ijambo ryiwe,’ ivyo bikaba bisobanura ko bemera Ijambo ry’Imana, Bibiliya, bakabona ko ari “ukuri” be n’uko ari co kintu nyamukuru bisunga mu vyo bemera no mu vyo bakora.

Abakirisu bo mu ntango boba barabishitsa? Intumwa Paulo, ari na we mukirisu yanditse ibitabu vyinshi vyo muri Bibiliya kuruta abandi, yarubaha Ijambo ry’Imana nka Yezu. Yanditse ati: “Icanditswe cose cahumetswe n’Imana kandi ni ngirakamaro.” (2 Timoteyo 3:16) Mu bakirisu bo mu ntango, abagabo bagenwa kugira bigishe abakirisu bagenzi babo babwirizwa “kwumira kw’Ijambo ry’Imana ry’ukuri kandi ryo kwizigirwa.” (Tito 1:7, 9, The Amplified Bible) Abakirisu bo mu ntango baremeshejwe kwamirira kure “filozofiya [n’]uruhendo rugaragara bishingiye ku migenzo y’abantu, bishingiye ku bintu vy’intango vyo mw’isi, bidashingiye kuri Kristu.”​—Abakolosayi 2:8.

Ni bande babishitsa muri iki gihe? Ibwirizwa-shingiro rya Vatikano rigenga inyigisho za Ekeleziya (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation) ryemejwe mu 1965 rigashirwa no mw’Ikatikisimu ya Ekeleziya Gatolika, rivuga riti: “Ivyanditswe Vyeranda si vyo vyonyene bikura amazinda Ekeleziya [Gatolika] ku bijanye n’ikintu cose cahishuwe. Ku bw’ivyo, imigenzo myeranda n’Ivyanditswe Vyeranda bikwiye vyompi kwemerwa no kwubahwa cane, umuntu akabona ko ari ivyo gukurikizwa rwose no gusonerwa rwose ku rugero rumwe.” Ikiganiro co mu kinyamakuru kimwe (Maclean’s) carasubiyemwo amajambo y’umumenyeshamana w’i Toronto muri Kanada, uwabajije ati: “Kubera iki dukeneye kuyoborwa n’ivyo uwitwa ngo ni imboneza haciye imyaka ibihumbi bibiri avuze? Turifitiye ivyiyumviro vyacu bwite vyiza utoraba vyama bitakaza inguvu kubera tubwirizwa kubihuza na Yezu be n’Ivyanditswe.”

Ku bijanye n’Ivyabona vya Yehova, igitabu kimwe c’inkoranyabumenyi ca Gatolika (New Catholic Encyclopedia) kivuga giti: “Babona ko Bibiliya ari yo yonyene bakwiye kwisunga ku bijanye n’ivyo bemera be n’ukuntu bigenza.” Mu misi iheze, igihe Icabona ca Yehova yariko yidondora umugabo umwe wo muri Kanada, uwo mugabo yaramuciriye mw’ijambo maze amubwira atunga urutoki Bibiliya y’ico Cabona ati: “Ndazi uwo uri we, mfatiye kuri ico kintu kibaranga.”

‘Si ab’isi’

“Isi yarabanse, kubera ko atari ab’isi.”​—YOHANI 17:14.

Ivyo bisobanura iki? Kubera ko Yezu atari uw’isi, nta ho yahengamira mu matati yo mu kibano canke y’ivya politike yo mu gihe ciwe. Yasiguye ati: “Iyo ubwami bwanje buba ari ubwo muri iyi si, abasuku banje bari kurwana ngo sinshikirizwe Abayuda. Ariko noneho, ubwami bwanje ntibukomoka ino.” (Yohani 18:36) Yararemesheje kandi abayoboke biwe kwamirira kure udutima, imvugo n’inyifato Ijambo ry’Imana ryiyamiriza.​—Matayo 20:25-27.

Abakirisu bo mu ntango boba barabishitsa? Umwanditsi umwe w’ivy’idini yitwa Jonathan Dymond yavuze yuko abakirisu bo mu ntango “ban[ka] kwisuka mu [ntambara], naho ivyo vyari gutuma bashikirwa n’ibintu bimeze gute, kwaba ari ugusigwa iceyi, ugupfungwa canke ukwicwa.” Bahitamwo kugirirwa nabi aho guhemuka ngo bagire aho bahengamiye. Amategeko agenga inyifato runtu bisunga na yo nyene yatuma baba abatandukanye n’abandi bantu. Abakirisu babwiwe bati: “Kubera ko mutabandanya kwiruka hamwe na bo muri iyo nzira muja mu rushanga rumwe rw’ubuhumbu, barazazanirwa bakabandanya kubatuka.” (1 Petero 4:4) Ku bijanye n’abakirisu, umutohozakahise Will Durant yanditse ati: “Kubera ko bayobokera Imana kandi bakigenza rupfasoni, baradugarika imitima y’abapagani bahurumbira ukwinezereza.”

Ni bande babishitsa muri iki gihe? Ku bijanye n’uko abakirisu batagira aho bahengamiye, igitabu c’inkoranyabumenyi c’abagatolika (New Catholic Encyclopedia) cemeza giti: “Nta mvo n’imwe yotuma [umukirisu] adafata ibirwanisho ngo ni kubera ijwi ryiwe ryo mutima.” Ikiganiro co mu kinyamakuru kimwe (Reformierte Presse) kivuga yuko raporo ishirahamwe rimwe riharanira agateka ka zina muntu (African Rights) ryasohoye ku bijanye na rya honyabwoko ryaba mu Rwanda mu 1994 yerekanye neza yuko amadini yose yagize uruhara muri iryo honyabwoko “kiretse Ivyabona vya Yehova.”

Ku bijanye na rya Honyabwoko ryagirwa n’Abanazi, umwigisha umwe wo kw’ishure ryisumbuye yaraseruye akababaro afise kubona “ata mugwi n’umwe canke ishirahamwe na rimwe vy’abanyagihugu basanzwe vyateye ivyatsi ibinyoma bitagira uko bingana [vyavuzwe], ubunyamaswa [bwagizwe] be n’amabi y’agahomerabunwa yahavuye akorwa.” Aho amariye kugendera Ubushinguro bw’utwa kera bwo muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika bw’ivya rya Honyabwoko ryagirwa n’Abanazi, yanditse ati: “Nararonse inyishu.” Yaramenye ko Ivyabona vya Yehova batigeze badohoka ku vyo bemera naho bakorewe amabi.

Tuvuge iki ku bijanye n’inyifato runtu igenga abakirisu? Ikinyamakuru kimwe c’abagatolika (U.S. Catholic) kivuga giti: “Benshi mu rwaruka rugeze mu bigero rwo muri Gatolika ntibemera inyigisho Ekeleziya yigisha ku bijanye n’ukubana kw’abatubakanye [n’] uguhuza ibitsina imbere y’ukwabirana.” Ico kinyamakuru kirasubiramwo amajambo umudiyakoni wo muri Ekeleziya yavuze ati: “Igice kinini c’abo mbona, ngirango nk’abarenga ibice 50 kw’ijana, bubakana bari basanzwe babana.” Igitabu kimwe c’inkoranyabumenyi (The New Encyclopædia Britannica) kivuga yuko Ivyabona vya Yehova “bashimika ku kubaho umuntu yisunga amategeko agenga inyifato runtu ari hejuru.”

‘Mugiriranire urukundo hagati yanyu’

“Ndabahaye ibwirizwa rishasha: mukundane. Nk’uko nabakunze, abe ari ko namwe mukundana. Iki ni co bose bazomenyerako yuko muri abigishwa banje: nimwagiriranira urukundo hagati yanyu.”​—YOHANI 13:34, 35.

Ivyo bisobanura iki? Kristu yabwiye abayoboke biwe ngo bakundane nk’uko yabakunze. None Yezu yabakunze gute? Urukundo rwiwe rwararengera ukwinubana gushingiye ku bwenegihugu no ku gitsina kwari kwiraye mu gihe ciwe. (Yohani 4:7-10) Urukundo rwaratumye yemera gutanga umwanya wiwe n’inguvu ziwe no guheba ivyo kubaho yorohewe kugira afashe abandi. (Mariko 6:30-34) Amaherezo Kristu yaragaragaje urukundo mu buryo buhambaye kuruta ubundi bwose. Yavuze ati: “Ni jewe mwungere w’agahebuza; umwungere w’agahebuza arigura intama.”​—Yohani 10:11.

Abakirisu bo mu ntango boba barabishitsa? Mu bakirisu bo mu kinjana ca mbere, umwe wese yita mugenziwe “mwene wacu” canke “mushiki wacu.” (Filemoni 1, 2) Baraha ikaze mw’ishengero rya gikirisu abantu bo mu mahanga yose, kuko bemera yuko “ata tandukaniro ririho hagati y’Umuyuda n’Umugiriki, kuko hari Umukama umwe kuri bose.” (Abaroma 10:11, 12) Inyuma ya Pentekoti yo mu 33 G.C. (G.C. bisobanura “mu Gihe Cacu”), abigishwa b’i Yeruzalemu “baragurisha amatongo yabo n’ivyo batunze, bakagaburira bose ibivuyemwo, nk’uko umuntu wese yaba akeneye.” Kubera iki? Kugira ngo abari baherutse kubatizwa bagume i Yeruzalemu, babandanye “kwihebera inyigisho y’intumwa.” (Ivyakozwe 2:41-45) None ivyo babitumwa n’iki? Haciye imyaka idashika 200 inyuma y’urupfu rw’intumwa, Terituliyano yarasubiyemwo amajambo abandi bantu bavuze ku bakirisu, ati: “Ese ingene bakundana . . . n’ingene umwe wese yiteguriye gupfira mugenziwe!”

Ni bande babishitsa muri iki gihe? Igitabu kimwe casohowe mu 1837 (The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire) cavuze yuko mu binjana n’ibindi abavuga yuko ari abakirisu “bagiye barakoreranira amabi atagira izina akomeye kuruta ayo bari barakorewe n’abatemera b’abanyeshaka.” Itohoza rimwe riheruka kugirwa muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika ryerekanye yuko abanyamadini batari bake, benshi muri bo bakaba ari abiyita abakirisu, binuba abo badasangiye ibara ry’urukoba. Abanyedini bo mu gihugu kimwe akenshi usanga ata co bahuriyeko n’abo basangiye idini bo mu kindi gihugu, ivyo bigatuma batipfuza canke badashobora gufashanya igihe bikenewe.

Mu 2004, inyuma y’ibivumbuzi bine vyateye muri Floride vyikurikiranya mu mezi abiri, umuhagarikizi wa Komite ijejwe gutabara abashikiwe n’ivyago yo muri Floride yarasuzumye ko imfashanyo zoba zariko zirakoreshwa neza. Yavuze ko ata rindi dini ryari ritunganijwe neza nk’Ivyabona vya Yehova, aca asezeranira Ivyabona kubaronsa ivyo bakeneye vyose. Imbere y’aho, mu 1997, umugwi ujejwe gutabara w’Ivyabona vya Yehova warafashe urugendo uja muri Repubulika iharanira demokarasi ya Kongo, ugenda ujanye imiti, ibifungurwa n’ivyambarwa kugira bafashe bene wabo basangiye ugusenga be n’abandi bari bakeneye gufashwa. Ivyabona bagenzi babo bo mu Buraya bari batanze imfashanyo ziciye umuliyoni w’amadolari y’amanyamerika (ni ukuvuga amarundi arenga umuliyaridi).

‘Naramenyekanishije izina ryawe’

“Narahishuriye izina ryawe abantu wampaye ubakuye mw’isi. . . . Narabamenyesheje izina ryawe, kandi nzorimenyekanisha.”​—YOHANI 17:6, 26.

Ivyo bisobanura iki? Yezu yaramenyekanishije izina ry’Imana mu kurikoresha mu gikorwa ciwe. Igihe Yezu yaba ariko arasoma Ivyanditswe, nk’uko yakunda kubigira, yaravuga izina ry’uruharo ry’Imana. (Luka 4:16-21) Yigishije abayoboke biwe gusenga bati: “Data, izina ryawe niryezwe.”​—Luka 11:2.

Abakirisu bo mu ntango boba barabishitsa? Intumwa Petero yabwiye abagabo b’inararibonye b’i Yeruzalemu ko Imana yari yaratoranije mu mahanga “igisata ku bw’izina ryayo.” (Ivyakozwe 15:14) Intumwa n’abandi baramamaje inkuru nziza y’uko “umuntu wese yambaza izina rya Yehova azokizwa.” (Ivyakozwe 2:21; Abaroma 10:13) Barakoresha kandi izina ry’Imana mu vyo bandika. Icegeranyo kimwe c’amategeko y’Abayuda (Tossefta) carangiye gutunganywa mu 300 G.C. kivuga ku bijanye n’ibitabu vy’abakirisu vyaturiwe n’ababarwanya giti: “Ibitabu vy’abanditsi b’Injili be n’ibitabu vy’abitwa minim [bikaba vyiyumvirwa ko bari abakirisu b’Abayuda] biraturirwa. Ariko rero, bituririrwa aho biri, . . . vyo hamwe n’ahantu haba handitse Izina ry’Imana.”

Ni bande babishitsa muri iki gihe? Bibiliya imwe (Revised Standard Version) yemejwe n’Inama nkuru y’igihugu y’amadini ya Kristu yo muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, ivuga mu kajambo kayo k’intango iti: “Ivyo gukoresha izina iryo ari ryo ryose ry’uruharo mu kuvuga Imana imwe rudende nk’aho hoba hari izindi mana tubwirizwa kuyitandukanya na zo, vyahagaritswe mw’idini ry’Abayuda imbere y’ikiringo c’abakirisu kandi ntibijanye na gato n’ukwemera kw’idini rya gikirisu kw’isi yose.” Izina ry’Imana rero, iyo Bibiliya yarisubirije n’izina ry’icubahiro “UMUKAMA.” Vatikano iherutse gutegeka abasenyeri bayo iti: “Izina ry’Imana ryanditswe hakoreshejwe za ndome zine YHWHa ntirikwiye gukoreshwa canke gucishwa mu kanwa mu ndirimbo no mu bisabisho.”

Ni bande muri iki gihe bakoresha izina ry’uruharo ry’Imana bakongera bakarimenyekanisha? Sergey wo muri Kirgistani akiri umuyabaga, yararorereye isenema yerekana ko izina ry’Imana ari Yehova. Yaramaze nk’imyaka cumi adasubiye kwumva izina ry’Imana. Mu nyuma, aho Sergey amariye kwimukira muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, Ivyabona vya Yehova babiri baramugendeye i muhira bamwereka izina ry’Imana muri Bibiliya. Sergey yararyohewe no kubona idini rikoresha izina ry’Imana ari ryo Yehova. Birashimishije kubona kazinduzi imwe (Webster’s Third New International Dictionary), kw’ijambo “Yehova Imana” itanga iyi nsobanuro: “imana rudasumbwa ikaba n’imana yonyene yemerwa kandi isengwa n’Ivyabona vya Yehova.”

[Akajambo k’epfo]

“Iyi nkuru nziza y’ubwami izokwamamazwa”

“Iyi nkuru nziza y’ubwami izokwamamazwa mw’isi yose ngo bibe intahe ku mahanga yose; maze iherezo rizoca riza.”​—MATAYO 24:14.

Ivyo bisobanura iki? Wa mwanditsi w’Injili Luka yavuze ku bijanye na Yezu ati: “Agendagenda ava mu gisagara aja mu kindi, ava mu kigwati aja mu kindi, yamamaza yongera amenyesha inkuru nziza y’ubwami bw’Imana.” (Luka 8:1) Yezu ubwiwe yavuze ati: “Ntegerezwa kumenyesha n’ibindi bisagara inkuru nziza y’ubwami bw’Imana, kubera ko ico ari co natumwe.” (Luka 4:43) Yararungitse abigishwa biwe kwamamaza inkuru nziza mu bisagara no mu bigwati, mu nyuma na ho abategeka ati: “Muzombera ivyabona . . . gushika mu karere ka kure rwose k’isi.”​—Ivyakozwe 1:8; Luka 10:1.

Abakirisu bo mu ntango boba barabishitsa? Abigishwa ba Yezu ntibatevye gukora ivyo yababwiye. Inkuru ivuga iti: “Imisi yose mu rusengero n’inzu ku nzu, babandanya kwigisha no kumenyesha inkuru nziza yerekeye Kristu . . . badatezura.” (Ivyakozwe 5:42) Ico gikorwa nticakorwa n’abantu bakomakomeye gusa bo mw’ishengero. Umutohozakahise Neander yavuze yuko “Celse, umwanditsi wa mbere yanditse arwanya ubukirisu, yanebaguye ukuntu abahingura ubwoya bw’ibikoko, abashonyi b’ibirato, abahinguzi b’insato, abantu batize na gato kandi basanzwe, bari abamamaji b’injili b’abanyamwete.” Uwitwa Jean Bernardi, mu gitabu ciwe Ibinjana vya mbere vy’ishengero (mu gifaransa), yanditse ati: “[Abakirisu] babwirizwa kugenda bakavuga [inkuru nziza] hose kandi bakabwira bose. Mu mayira no mu bisagara, mu bibanza vya bose no mu mihana. Babakira canke batabakira. . . . Gushika ku mpera y’isi.”

Ni bande babishitsa muri iki gihe? Umupatiri w’umwangilikani yitwa David Watson yanditse ati: “Kuba idini ritafatanye uburemere igikorwa co kwamamaza no kwigisha ni imwe mu mvo zituma abenshi batitaho Imana muri iki gihe.” Uwitwa José Luis Pérez Guadalupe, mu gitabu ciwe Kubera iki abagatolika bariko baraheba idini? (mu congereza) yaranditse ibijanye n’ibikorwa birangurwa n’abevanjelike, abaventisi, n’abandi, avuga yuko “batamamaza inzu ku nzu.” Ku bijanye n’Ivyabona vya Yehova yanditse ati: “Bamamaza inzu ku nzu mu buryo buri ku rutonde.”

Muri raporo imwe (Cato Supreme Court Review, 2001-2002) turahasanga aya majambo ashimishije kandi y’ukuri yavuzwe na Jonathan Turley agira ati: “Uvuze Ivyabona vya Yehova, abantu benshi baca babona abavugabutumwa batugendera i muhira mu masaha atatworohereza. Ivyabona vya Yehova babona ko kuvuga ubutumwa inzu ku nzu batabigira gusa kugira bakwiragize ukwizera kwabo, ariko kandi ko biri mu bigize ukwizera kwabo.”

[Uruzitiro ku rup. 9]

Ubona ari bande babishitsa?

Muri ibi biganiro, twaciye irya n’ino ibintu bivugwa mw’Ijambo ry’Imana biranga abakirisu b’ukuri. None wewe ubona ari bande babishitsa? Naho hari amadini ibihumbi mirongo avuga ko ari aya gikirisu, niwibuke ko Yezu yabwiye abayoboke biwe ati: “Si umuntu wese ambwira ngo: ‘Mukama, Mukama’ azokwinjira mu bwami bwo mw’ijuru, atari uwukora ukugomba kwa Dawe ari mw’ijuru.” (Matayo 7:21) Kumenya abakora ukugomba kwa Data wa twese, ari na bo bashitsa ibiranga abakirisu b’ukuri, ukongera ukifatanya na bo birashobora gutuma uronka imihezagiro y’ibihe bidahera ku ntwaro y’Ubwami bw’Imana. Tukuremesheje kubaza Ivyabona vya Yehova bakuzaniye iki kinyamakuru, bakubwire vyinshi ku bijanye n’Ubwami bw’Imana be n’imihezagiro buzozana.​—Luka 4:43.