Isahluko 15

Inkqubela Kulungelelwaniso Lwentlangano

KUYE kwenziwa iinguqulelo eziphawulekayo kwindlela esebenza ngayo intlangano yamaNgqina kaYehova ukususela oko uCharles Taze Russell nezinxulumani zakhe baqalisa ukufundisisa iBhayibhile kunye ngowe-1870. Ngoxa aBafundi beBhayibhile babesembalwa, zazimbalwa gqitha izinto ezazinokwenza abantu bangaphandle babagqale njengentlangano. Kodwa, namhlanje, xa abantu bejonga amabandla amaNgqina kaYehova, iindibano zawo nokushumayela kwawo iindaba ezilungileyo kumazwe angaphezu kwama-200, bayamangaliswa yindlela intlangano esebenza ngokutyibilikayo ngayo. Kwenzeke njani oku?

ABafundi beBhayibhile babelangazelela kungekuphela nje ukuqonda imfundiso yeBhayibhile kodwa kwanendlela afanele ukukhonzwa ngayo uThixo, njengoko iboniswa ziZibhalo. Babeqonda ukuba eBhayibhileni lalingekho ilungiselelo labefundisi abanezibizo, namarhamente ababeza kushumayela kuwo. UMzalwan’ uRussell wayezimisele ukuba lungabikho udidi lwabefundisi phakathi kwabo.a Ngemihlathi yeMboniselo, babesoloko bekhunjuzwa abafundi bayo ukuba uYesu wabaxelela oku abalandeli bakhe: “Mnye uMkhokeli wenu, uKristu,” kodwa, “Nina ke nonke ningabazalwana.”—Mat. 23:8, 10.

Umbutho Wokuqala WaBafundi BeBhayibhile

Kungekudala abafundi beMboniselo nezinye iimpapasho ezihlobene nayo babona ukuba ukuze bamkholise uThixo, kwakufuneka baqhawule amakhonkco nayo nayiphi na icawa eyayizingqine ingathembekanga kuThixo ngokubeka izivumo zokholo nezithethe zabantu ngaphambi kwelizwi lakhe elibhaliweyo. (2 Kor. 6:14-18) Kodwa emva kokuba berhoxile kwiicawa zeNgqobhoko, baya phi?

Kwinqaku elalinomxholo othi “The Ekklesia” (iBandla),b uMzalwan’ uRus­sell wabonisa ukuba icawa yokwenyaniso, ibandla lamaKristu, asiyontlangano enamalungu axhasa isivumo sokholo esithile esenziwe ngabantu nabhalisileyo ecaweni. Kunoko, wacacisa ukuba ibunjwa ngabantu abaye “banikela” (okanye, bahlulela) ixesha, ubuchule nobomi babo kuThixo, nabanethemba lokwabelana noKristu kuBukumkani basezulwini. Wathi, aba ngamaKristu amanyaniswe ziintambo zothando lobuKristu nezilangazelelo ezifanayo, asabela kulwalathiso lomoya kaThixo, nazithobayo kubuntloko bukaKristu. UMzalwan’ uRussell wayengenamdla wakwenza elinye ilungiselelo, yaye wayekuchasa ngamandla ukuba negalelo nangayiphi na indlela ekusekweni kwamahlelo awayekho phakathi kwabo babesithi bangamaKristu.

Kwangaxeshanye, wayeyiqonda kakuhle imfuneko yokuba abakhonzi beNkosi bahlanganisane kunye, ngokuvisisana nesiluleko esikumaHebhere 10:23-25. Wakhenketha ngokobuqu ukuze aye kwakha abafundi beMboniselo nokuze abahlanganise nabanye abakwingingqi yabo ababeneengqondo ezifanayo. Ekuqaleni kowe-1881 wacela ukuba abo babeqhuba iintlanganiso rhoqo bazise iofisi yeWatch Tower ngendawo ezaziqhutyelwa kuyo. Wayibona imbaluleka yokuba banxibelelane.

Noko ke, uMzalwan’ uRussell wagxininisa ukuba babengazami ukuseka “intlangano yasemhlabeni.” Kunoko, wathi, “sibambelele kuphela kuloo ntlangano yasezulwini—‘yabamagama abo abhaliweyo ezulwini.’ (Heb. 12:23; Luka 10:20.)” Ngenxa yembali engcolileyo yeNgqobhoko, ukuthi “intlangano yecawa” ngokuqhelekileyo kwakumkhumbuza umntu ngamahlelo, ulawulo lwabefundisi, nokwamkelwa kwamalungu ngokusekelwe ekwamkeleni isivumo sokholo esiqulunqwe libhunga lonqulo. Ngoko, uMzalwan’ uRussell wavakalelwa kukuba kwakulunge ngakumbi ukuba bazibize ngokuba ‘ngumbutho.’

Wayeyiqonda kakuhle into yokuba abapostile bakaKristu babeseke amabandla baza bamisela abadala kulo ngalinye. Kodwa wayekholelwa kwelokuba uKristu wayekho kwakhona, nangona wayengabonakali, yaye wayekwalathisa ngokwakhe ukuvunwa kokugqibela kwabo babeya kuba ziindlalifa kunye naye. Ngenxa yeemeko, ekuqaleni uMzalwan’ uRussell wayevakalelwa kukuba ebudeni bexesha lokuvuna ilungiselelo labadala elalikho kumabandla amaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala lalingeyomfuneko.

Noko ke, njengoko aBafundi beBhayibhile babesanda, uMzalwan’ uRussell waqonda ukuba iNkosi yayisalathisa imicimbi ngendlela eyahlukileyo kuleyo yena wayeyilindele. Kwafuneka imbono ngemicimbi ilungiswe. Kodwa ngokusekelwe entwenini?

Ukuhlangabezana Neentswelo Zokuqala Zombutho Owandayo

IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaNovemba 15, 1895, phantse yonke yayixubusha ngombandela othi “Ngokubekekileyo Nangolungelelwano.” Ngokuphandle, uMzalwan’ uRussell apho wavuma oku: “Abapostile bathetha lukhulu kwiCawa yamandulo ngolungelelwano kwiindibano zeengcwele; yaye kubonakala ukuba ngandlel’ ithile besingasinanzanga esi siluleko sobulumko, sivakalelwa kukuba asibalulekanga kangako, ngenxa yokuba iCawa sele isondele gqitha esiphelweni sendlela yayo ibe nokuvuna kulixesha lokwahlula.” Yintoni eyabashukumisela ukuba basijonge ngokutsha eso siluleko?

Elo nqaku ladwelisa iimeko ezine: (1) Kwakucacile ukuba ukukhula kwabantu ngokomoya kwakusahluka. Kwakukho izilingo, iimvavanyo, iinzima neengozi ababengakulungelanga ngokufanayo bonke ukuhlangabezana nazo. Ngaloo ndlela, kwakufuneka abaveleli abalumkileyo nabaqondayo, amadoda anamava nobuchule, anomdla onzulu wokunyamekela intlalo-ntle yokomoya yabo bonke nakufanelekeleyo ukubafundisa inyaniso. (2) Kwakubonakele ukuba umhlambi kwakufuneka ukhuselwe ‘kwiingcuka ezambethe izambatho zeegusha.’ (Mat. 7:15, KJ) Kwakufuneka bomeleziwe ngokuncedwa bazuze ulwazi oluchanileyo lwenyaniso. (3) Ngokusuka kumava kwakubonakele ukuba, xa kungekho lungiselelo lokumiselwa kwabadala bokulondoloza umhlambi, abathile babeya kusithabatha eso sikhundla baze bawujonge umhlambi njengowabo. (4) Xa kungekho lungiselelo lilungeleleneyo, abantu abanyanisekileyo enyanisweni babesenokufumanisa ukuba inkonzo yabo ayiyomfuneko ngenxa yempembelelo yebathwana elaliphikisana nabo.

Ngenxa yoku, IMboniselo yathi: “Asikho mathidala ekuncomeleni kuzo zonke iiCawac ezindaweni zonke, enoba zinamalungu amaninzi okanye ambalwa, isiluleko sabaPostile, sokuba, kuwo onke amaqela, kukhethwe abadala ‘bokondla’ ‘nokuvelela’ umhlambi.” (IZe. 14:21-23; 20:17, 28) Amabandla asekuhlaleni asilandela esi siluleko sisengqiqweni seZibhalo. Eli yayilinyathelo elibalulekileyo ekumiseleni ibandla ngokuvisisana nendlela ekwakwenziwe ngayo ngemihla yabapostile.

Noko ke, ngokuvisisana nendlela ababeyiqonda ngayo imicimbi ngoko, ukunyulwa kwabadala, nabadikoni bokubancedisa, kwakusenziwa ngokuba ibandla livote. Nyaka ngamnye, okanye izihlandlo ezingakumbi xa kuyimfuneko, kwakuqwalaselwa iimfaneleko zabo babenokukhonza, kuze ke kuvotwe. Ngokusisiseko yayiyinkqubo yedemokhrasi, kodwa eyayibiyelwe yimiqathango eyayenzelwe ukuyikhusela. Bonke ababesebandleni babebongozwa ukuba bazihlolisise ngenyameko iimfaneleko eziseBhayibhileni baze bavakalise ngevoti, kungekhona olwabo uluvo, kodwa oko babekholelwa ukuba kukuthanda kweNkosi. Ekubeni ingabo “babezinikele ngokupheleleyo” kuphela ababenelungelo lokuvota, ivoti yabo ehlangeneyo, xa ikhokelwa liLizwi nomoya weNkosi, yayigqalwa njengaleyo ibonisa ukuthanda kweNkosi kulo mbandela. Nangona uMzalwan’ uRussell esenokuba wayengakuqondi ngokupheleleyo oku, ukuncomela kwakhe eli lungiselelo kusenokuba ngandlel’ ithile kwakungaphenjelelwanga luzimiselo lwakhe lokuphepha nayo nantoni na enjengodidi lwabefundisi oluphakamileyo kuphela kodwa kwanayimvelaphi yakhe yokukhonza kwiCawa yamaCongregational ngoxa wayekwishumi elivisayo.

Xa umqulu weMillennial Dawn onomxholo othi The New Creation (owapapashwa ngowe-1904) waphinda waxubusha ngokweenkcukacha indima yabadala nendlela ababefanele banyulwe ngayo, kwalathiselwa ingqalelo ngokukhethekileyo kwiZenzo 14:23. Kwacatshulwa isalathi-magama sikaJames Strong nesikaRobert Young njengobungqina obuxhasa imbono yokuba amazwi athi “bebamisele njengabadala” (KJ) afanele aguqulelwe ngokuthi “bebanyule njengabadala ngokuphakamisa izandla.”d Ezinye iinguqulelo zeBhayibhile zide zithi abadala ‘babemiselwa ngevoti.’ (ILiteral Translation of the Holy Bible kaYoung; iEmphasised Bible kaRotherham) Kodwa ngoobani ababemele bavote?

Ukubambelela kwimbono yokuba kwakufanele kuvote ibandla liphela kwakungasoloko kuvelisa imiphumo ebilindelwe. Abo babevota kwakufanele ibe ngabantu “abazinikele ngokupheleleyo,” yaye abanye ababenyulwa babezifikelela ngokwenene iimfaneleko zeZibhalo yaye babebakhonza ngokuzithoba abazalwana babo. Kodwa ngokufuthi uvoto lwalubonakalisa ukhetho lobuqu kunokwalathiswa liLizwi nomoya kaThixo. Ngaloo ndlela, eHalle, eJamani, xa abathile ababecinga ukuba bafanele babe ngabadala bengazange bazifumane izikhundla ababezifuna, babangela iiyantlukwano. EBarmen, eJamani, phakathi kwabo babezigqatsile ngowe-1927 kwakukho amadoda awayewuchasile umsebenzi woMbutho, yaye kwakukho ingxolo ephawulekayo xa kwakuphakanyiswa izandla ngexesha lonyulo. Ngoko kwanyanzeleka ukuba kuphethukelwe kuvoto lwangasese.

Emva phayaa ngowe-1916, iminyaka eliqela ngaphambi kokuba kwenzeke ezi zinto, uMzalwan’ uRussell, ngenkxalabo enzulu, wayebhale oku: “Akuthandeki oko kwenzeka kwiiKlasi ezithile xa kuza kubakho unyulo. Izicaka zeCawa zizama ukuba ngabalawuli, oozwilakhe—maxa wambi zide zizenze abahlali-ngaphambili kuloo ntlanganiso ngenjongo ecacileyo yokuqinisekisa ukuba zona nabahlobo bazo abasenyongweni ziyanyulwa njengabaDala nabaDikoni. . . . Bambi ngeendlela ezingaqondakaliyo bazama ukuyiqhatha iKlasi ngokwenza ukuba unyulo luqhutywe ngexesha elibavumelayo bona nabahlobo babo. Bambi baye bazama ukuba kuloo ntlanganiso kuzale ngabahlobo babo, besiza nabantu abangaziwayo, abangenanjongo yokuza rhoqo eKlasini, kodwa abaza nje ngenxa yobuhlobo ukuze bavotele omnye wabahlobo babo.”

Ngaba ekuphela kwento eyayifuneka yayikukuba bafunde ukuqhuba unyulo ngendlela yedemokhrasi ngokutyibilika ngakumbi, okanye ngaba kwakukho nto ithile eLizwini likaThixo ababengekayiqondi?

Ukulungiselela Ukushunyayelwa Kweendaba Ezilungileyo

Kwasekuqaleni, uMzalwan’ uRussell waqonda ukuba enye yezona mbopheleleko zibalulekileyo zelungu ngalinye lebandla lamaKristu yayingumsebenzi wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo. (1 Pet. 2:9) IMboniselo yacacisa ukuba ayengabhekiseli kuYesu kuphela kodwa nakubo bonke abalandeli bakhe abathanjiswe ngomoya amazwi abuprofeti akuIsaya 61:1, athi: ‘UYehova undithambisele ukuba ndishumayele iindaba ezilungileyo,’ okanye njengokuba iKing James Version iyiguqulela indlela uYesu awayicaphula ngayo le ndinyana ngokuthi, ‘Undithambisele ukuba ndishumayele ivangeli.’—Luka 4:18.

Kwangowe-1881, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) yayinenqaku elithi “Kufuneka Abashumayeli Abali-1 000.” Esi sibongozo sasibhekiswa kwilungu ngalinye lebandla ukuba lisebenzise lonke ixesha elinokulifumana (isiqingatha seyure, iyure enye, ezimbini, okanye ezintathu) lize libe nesabelo ekusasazeni inyaniso yeBhayibhile. Amadoda nabafazi ababengenazintsapho zixhomekeke kubo nababenokunikela ngokupheleleyo isiqingatha okanye ngaphezulu kwixesha labo emsebenzini weNkosi bakhuthazwa ukuba basebenze njengabashumayeli beendaba ezilungileyo abangoovulindlela. Eli nani lalisahluka kakhulu kwiminyaka eyahlukahlukeneyo, kodwa ngowe-1885 babesele bengama-300 ababenesabelo kulo msebenzi njengoovulindlela. Nabanye baba nenxaxheba kodwa ngomlinganiselo omncinane gqitha. Oovulindlela bacetyiswa iindlela ababenokuwenza ngazo umsebenzi wabo. Kodwa intsimi yayinkulu, yaye ubuncinane ekuqaleni, babezikhethela intsimi yaye besuka kwenye indawo baye kwenye ubukhulu becala njengoko babebona kubalungele. Babethi ke xa bedibene ezindibanweni, benze uhlengahlengiso oluyimfuneko lokulungelelanisa imigudu yabo.

Kwangonyaka umsebenzi wobuvulindlela owaqala ngawo, uMzalwan’ uRussell walungiselela ukuba kushicilelwe amaphecana (okanye iincwadana) aliqela ukuze asasazwe ngesisa. Elona lalibalasele kuwo lalinomxholo othi Food for Thinking Christians, ekwasasazwa imibhalo yalo esisi-1 200 000 kwiinyanga ezine zokuqala. Umsebenzi owawubandakanyekile ekulungiseleleni ukushicilelwa nokusasazwa kwawo wabangela kwasekwa iZion’s Watch Tower Tract Society ukuze inyamekele iinkcukacha eziyimfuneko. Ukuthintela ukuphazamiseka komsebenzi akuba efile, nokuze kube lula ukunyamekela iminikelo eyayisetyenziswa emsebenzini, uMzalwan’ uRussell wenza isicelo sokuba uMbutho ubhaliswe ngokusemthethweni, yaye oku kwenzeka ngoDisemba 15, 1884. Ngale ndlela kwabakho isixhobo esisemthethweni esasifuneka.

Njengoko kwakuyimfuneko, kwakusekwa iiofisi zamasebe zeWatch Tower Society kwamanye amazwe. Eyokuqala yasekwa eLondon, eNgilani, ngoAprili 23, 1900. Enye, e-Elberfeld, eJamani, ngowe-1902. Emva kweminyaka emibini, kwelinye icala lomhlaba, kwalungelelaniswa isebe eMelbourne, eOstreliya. Ngethuba lokubhalwa kwale ncwadi, bekukho amasebe angama-99 emhlabeni wonke.

Nangona kwakusenziwa amalungiselelo ayimfuneko okudlulisela izixa zoncwadi lweBhayibhile, ekuqaleni kwakushiyelwe emabandleni ukuba azenzele amalungiselelo okulusasaza ekuhleni olo ncwadi. Kwileta kaMatshi 16, 1900, uMzalwan’ uRussell wachaza indlela awujonga ngayo lo mbandela. Loo leta, eyayibhalelwe “UAlexander M. Graham, neCawa eseBoston, eMass.,” yathi: “Njengokuba nonke nisazi, ndinomdla wokuba ndikushiyele kwiqela ngalinye labantu beNkosi ukulawulwa kwemicimbi yalo, ngendlela lona elibona ngayo, ndinikele amacebiso, kungekuba ndiyagxuphuleka, kodwa ngenjongo yokucebisa kuphela.” Oku kwakungaquki iintlanganiso zabo kuphela kodwa kwanendlela ababebuqhuba ngayo ubulungiseleli babo basentsimini. Ngaloo ndlela, emva kokudlulisela isiluleko esisebenzisekayo kubazalwana, wayiqukumbela ngala mazwi: “Eli licebiso kuphela.”

Eminye imisebenzi yayifuna ulwalathiso olungqale ngakumbi oluvela kuMbutho. Mayela nokuboniswa kwe-“Photo-Drama of Creation,” kwakushiyelwa kwibandla ngalinye ukuba ligqibe enokuba lalikulungele ibe linokukwazi na ukuqesha iholo yemiboniso okanye enye indawo eyayinokuboniswa kuyo ekuhlaleni. Noko ke, kwakufuneka izixhobo zisuswe kwesinye isixeko zisiwe kwesinye, yaye kwakufuneka kuhanjiswane nocwangciso; ngoko kwezi nkalo ulwalathiso lwalunikelwa nguMbutho. Kwakukhuthazwa ukuba bandla ngalinye libe neKomiti yeDrama yokunyamekela amalungiselelo asekuhlaleni. Kodwa umalathisi othunyelwe nguMbutho wayenikela ingqalelo ngenyameko kwiinkcukacha ukuze aqinisekise ukuba zonke izinto zazihamba ngokutyibilikayo.

Njengoko unyaka we-1914 wadlulayo kwaza kwalandela nowe-1915, ngolangazelelo loo maKristu athanjiswe ngomoya alinda ukuzaliseka kwethemba lawo lasezulwini. Kwangaxeshanye, akhuthazwa ukuba axakeke enkonzweni yeNkosi. Nangona ayenoluvo lokuba ixesha eliseleyo esenyameni lalifinyele kakhulu, kwacaca ukuba ukuze aqhubeke nokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ngendlela elungeleleneyo, kwakufuneka ulwalathiso olungakumbi kunangoxa ayengamakhulu ambalwa kuphela. Ngokukhawuleza emva kokuba uJ. F. Rutherford emiselwe njengomongameli wesibini weWatch Tower Society, olo lwalathiso lwaqalisa ukubonakala ngezinye iindlela. Inkupho yeMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaMatshi 1, 1917, yavakalisa ukuba, ukususela ngoko, yonke intsimi eyayiza kusetyenzwa ngoovulindlela nangabasebenzi abangabalusie emabandleni babeza kuyabelwa yiofisi yoMbutho. Apho kwakukho abasebenzi basekuhlaleni noovulindlela besabelana kuloo nkonzo yasentsimini esixekweni okanye emaphandleni, intsimi yayisahlulwahlulwa phakathi kwabo yikomiti yesithili emiselweyo. Eli lungiselelo laba negalelo ekusasazweni ngokuphawulekayo kwencwadi ethi The Finished Mystery ngeenyanga nje ezimbalwa ngowe-1917-18. Kwakhona laba luncedo ekusasazweni ngokukhawuleza kwemibhalo eli-10 000 000 yephecana elayibhenca ngamandla iNgqobhoko elalibalaselisa umbandela othi “Ukuwa KweBhabhiloni.”

Ngokukhawuleza emva koku, amalungu asebenza kwicandelo lolawulo loMbutho abanjwa, aza ngoJuni 21, 1918, agwetywa iminyaka engama-20 entolongweni. Ukushunyayelwa kweendaba ezilungileyo kwaphantsa kwema. Ngaba eli yayilixesha lokuba ekugqibeleni amanyaniswe neNkosi kuzuko lwasemazulwini?

Kwiinyanga ezimbalwa kamva, imfazwe yaphela. Kunyaka olandelayo amagosa oMbutho akhululwa. Ayesesenyameni. Ayengalindelanga oko, kodwa agqiba kwelokuba makube uThixo wayesenomsebenzi awayefuna awenze apha emhlabeni.

Ukholo lwawo lwalusandul’ ukuvavanywa ngokuqatha. Noko ke, ngowe-1919, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) yawomeleza ngamanqaku eZibhalo achukumisayo anomxholo othi “Basikelelwe Abangoyikiyo.” La alandelwa linqaku elithi “Amathuba Enkonzo.” Kodwa abazalwana babengenawo umbono wolungelelwaniso olwaluseza kwenziwa kwintlangano kumashumi eminyaka awayeza kulandela.

Ukuwumisela Umzekelo Omhle Umhlambi

UMzalwan’ uRutherford waqonda ukuba ukuze umsebenzi uqhubeke uhambela phambili ngendlela elungeleleneyo nemanyeneyo, kungakhathaliseki ukuba kusele ixesha elifutshane kangakanani na, kwakubalulekile ukuba umhlambi umiselwe umzekelo omhle. UYesu wayebachaze abalandeli bakhe njengezimvu, ibe izimvu zilandela umalusi wazo. Liyinyaniso elokuba, uYesu unguMalusi Olungileyo, kodwa ukwasebenzisa amadoda amakhulu, okanye abadala, njengabalusi abangaphantsi babantu bakhe. (1 Pet. 5:1-3) Abo badala bafanele nabo babe ngamadoda anenxaxheba kumsebenzi uYesu awawunikelayo nakhuthaza abanye ukuba bawenze. Bafanele babe nawo ngokwenene umoya wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo. Noko ke, xa kwakusasazwa incwadi ethi The Finished Mystery, bambi babadala babeye barhoxobisa; abanye babede babadimaza ngokuphandle abanye ekubeni nesabelo.

Inyathelo elibaluleke ngokwenene lokulungisa le meko lathatyathwa ngowe-1919 xa kwaqaliswa ukupapashwa kwephephancwadi elithi The Golden Age. Esi yayiza kuba sisixhobo esinamandla sokuvakalisa uBukumkani bukaThixo njengobukuphela kwesicombululo esihlala sihleli seengxaki zoluntu. Bandla ngalinye elalinqwenela ukuba nesabelo kulo msebenzi lamenyelwa ukuba licele uMbutho ulibhalise “njengentlangano yenkonzo.” Yaye uMbutho wawumisela umalathisi, okanye umalathisi wenkonzo njengokuba waziwa njalo kamva, ekwakungeyomfuneko ukuba anyulwe minyaka le.f Njengommeli wasekuhlaleni woMbutho, wayemele alungelelanise umsebenzi, abe intsimi, aze akhuthaze ibandla libe nenxaxheba kwinkonzo yasentsimini. Ngaloo ndlela, ndawonye nabadala nabadikoni ababenyulwe ngenkqubo yedemokhrasi, kwaqalisa ukusebenza elinye ilungiselelo lentlangano, lungiselelo elo elabangela ukuba igunya lokumisela lingabikho semandleni ebandla lasekuhlaleni nelaligxininisa kakhulu ekushumayeleni iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo.g

Ebudeni beminyaka eyalandelayo, umsebenzi wokuvakalisa uBukumkani watyhalwa ngamandla, ngokungathi kungamandla angenakuthintelwa. Iziganeko zowe-1914 nasemva koko zazenze kwacaca ukuba isiprofeto esibalaseleyo eyathi kuso iNkosi uYesu Kristu yachaza ngokuqosheliswa kwale nkqubo indala sasizaliseka. Ngenxa yoku, ngowe-1920, IMboniselo yabonisa ukuba njengokuba kwaxelwa kwangaphambili kuMateyu 24:14, eli yayilixesha lokuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo ezimayela ‘nesiphelo solungelelwaniso oludala lwezinto nokumiselwa kobukumkani bukaMesiya.’h (Mat. 24:3-14) Emva kokuba beye kwindibano yaBafundi beBhayibhile eCedar Point, eOhio, ngowe-1922, abo babekho bemka ezindlebeni zabo kunkenteza amazwi athi: “Mbhengezeni, mbhengezeni, mbhengezeni, uKumkani nobukumkani bakhe.” Indima yamaKristu okwenyaniso yaqondakala ngokucace nangakumbi ngowe-1931 xa kwamkelwa igama elithi amaNgqina kaYehova.

Kwakucacile ukuba uYehova wayebabele umsebenzi ababenokuba nesabelo kuwo bonke abakhonzi bakhe. Oku kwamkelwa ngehlombe. Abaninzi benza iinguqulelo eziphawulekayo kubomi babo ukuze banikele ixesha labo liphela kulo msebenzi. Kwanaphakathi kwabo babenikela nje inxalenye yexesha labo, uninzi lwaluchitha imini yonke kwinkonzo yasentsimini ngeempela-veki. Esabela kukhuthazo olwalukwiMboniselo (yesiNgesi) neInformant ngowe-1938 nowe-1939, ngelo xesha ngokunyaniseka amaNgqina kaYehova amaninzi ayezabalazela ukuchitha iiyure ezingama-60 nyanga nganye kwinkonzo yasentsimini.

Phakathi kwaloo maNgqina anenzondelelo kwakukho abakhonzi bakaYehova abaliqela abathobekileyo nabazinikeleyo ababengabadala emabandleni. Noko ke, kwiindawo ezithile, ebudeni beminyaka yee-1920 nasekuqaleni kweyee-1930, abaninzi babengayithandi ingcamango yokuba wonk’ ubani abe nesabelo kwinkonzo yasentsimini. Ngokufuthi abadala abanyulwe ngendlela yedemokhrasi babekuvakalisa ngokuphandle ukungavumelani kwabo noko IMboniselo yayikutsho ngembopheleleko yokushumayela kubantu abangekho ebandleni. Ukungavumi ukuphulaphula oko umoya kaThixo, ngeZibhalo Ezingcwele, wawukutsho kwibandla ngalo mbandela kwakuthintela ukusebenza ngokukhululekileyo komoya kaThixo kuloo maqela.—ISityhi. 2:5, 7.

Ngowe-1932 kwathatyathwa amanyathelo okulungisa le meko. Umbandela owawuxhalabisa kakhulu wawungekokuba abadala abathile ababalaseleyo babesenokuphazamiseka okanye abathile ababenxulumene namabandla babesenokuyeka. Kunoko, umnqweno wabazalwana wawukukukholisa uYehova nokwenza ukuthanda kwakhe. Ukuze bafeze oko, inkupho yeMboniselo ka-Agasti 15 nekaSeptemba 1 (zesiNgesi) kuloo nyaka zabalaselisa umbandela othi “Intlangano KaYehova.”

Loo manqaku abonisa ngokuphandle ukuba bonke abo ngokwenene babeyinxalenye yentlangano kaYehova babeya kwenza umsebenzi iLizwi lakhe elalithe umele wenziwe ngeli xesha. La manqaku abethelela imbono yokuba ukuba ngumdala ongumKristu kwakungesosikhundla ubani awayenokunyulelwa kuso kodwa kwakuyinto eyayifumaneka ngokukhula ngokomoya. Kwagxininiswa ngokukodwa kumthandazo kaYesu wokuba abafundi bakhe “bonke babe banye”—bamanyane noThixo noKristu, baze ngaloo ndlela bamanyane omnye nomnye ekwenzeni ukuthanda kukaThixo. (Yoh. 17:21) Ngayiphi imiphumo? Inqaku lesibini laphendula ngelithi oku kuthetha ukuba “ngamnye wentsalela umele abe lingqina legama nobukumkani bukaYehova uThixo.” Bonke ababesilela nababengavumi ukwenza okusemandleni abo ekubeni nesabelo kubungqina basesidlangalaleni babengamele babe ngabaveleli.

Emva kokuba la manqaku efundisisiwe, amabandla amenywa ukuba enze isigqibo esibonisa ukuvuma kwawo. Ngaloo ndlela unyulo lwaminyaka le lwamadoda aza kuba ngabadala nabadikoni emabandleni lwapheliswa. EBelfast, kuMntla Ireland, njengakwezinye iindawo, bambi ababesakuba ‘ngabadala abanyuliweyo’ balishiya ibandla; abanye abantu ababeneembono ezifana nezabo bemka kunye nabo. Oku kwaphumela ekuncipheni kwamanani abo babenxulumana nebandla kodwa ekomeleleni kwentlangano iphela. Abo basalayo ngabantu ababekulungele ukuthwala imbopheleleko yobuKristu yokunikela ubungqina. Kunokuvotela abadala, amabandla—esasebenzisa iindlela zedemokhrasi—ayenyula ikomiti yenkonzoi eyayibunjwa ngamadoda aqolileyo ngokomoya awayeba nesabelo ngenkuthalo ekunikeleni ubungqina ekuhleni. Amalungu ebandla ayevotela nosihlalo owayeza kongamela kwiintlanganiso zayo kwanonobhala nonondyebo. Bonke aba babengamadoda angamangqina akhutheleyo kaYehova.

Ekubeni ngoku ibandla lalivelelwa ngamadoda awayengenamdla kwizikhundla zobuqu kodwa awayenomdla ekwenzeni umsebenzi kaThixo—ukungqinela igama noBukumkani bakhe—nawayemisela umzekelo omhle ngokuba nenxaxheba ngokobuqu kuwo, umsebenzi wahambela phambili ngokutyibilika ngakumbi. Nangona babengakwazi oko ngelo xesha, kwakusekho okuninzi okwakumele kwenziwe, kwakumele kunikelwe ubungqina ngokucokiseke ngakumbi kunokuba kwakusele kwenziwe, ukuhlanganiswa kwabantu ngomlinganiselo ababengawulindelanga. (Isa. 55:5) Kubonakala ukuba uYehova wayebalungiselela oko.

Imbinana enethemba lobomi obungunaphakade emhlabeni yayiqalisa ukunxulumana nabo.j Noko ke, iBhayibhile yayixele kwangaphambili ngokuhlanganiswa kwesihlwele esikhulu esiya kulondolozwa ukutyhubela imbandezelo enkulu ezayo. (ISityhi. 7:9-14) Ngowe-1935 sacaciswa ukuba singoobani na esi sihlwele sikhulu. Iinguqulelo kwindlela yokukhetha abaveleli ezaqalwa ngeminyaka yee-1930 zayenza intlangano yakuxhobela ngakumbi ukunyamekela umsebenzi wokusihlanganisa, ukusifundisa nokusiqeqesha.

Kwinkoliso yamaNgqina kaYehova, lo msebenzi wandisiweyo wawuchulumancisa. Ubulungiseleli bawo basentsimini baba nentsingiselo entsha. Noko ke, amanye ayengenamdla wakushumayela. Arhoxobisa, aza azama ukuthethelela ukungasebenzi kwawo ngokuthi kwakungekho sihlwele sikhulu siza kuhlanganiswa de kube semva kweArmagedon. Kodwa inkoliso yabona ithuba elongezelelekileyo lokubonisa ukunyaniseka kwabo kuYehova nothando lwabo ngabanye abantu.

Abo besihlwele esikhulu babefaneleka njani kulungelelwaniso lwentlangano? Baboniswa indima iLizwi likaThixo eliyabela ‘umhlambi omcinane’ wabo bathanjiswe ngomoya, yaye ngovuyo basebenza ngokuvisisana nelo lungiselelo. (Luka 12:32-44) Kwakhona bafunda ukuba, njengabo bathanjiswe ngomoya, babenembopheleleko yokwabelana nabanye ngeendaba ezilungileyo. (ISityhi. 22:17) Ekubeni babefuna ukuba ngabalawulwa basemhlabeni boBukumkani bukaThixo, obo Bukumkani babufanele bube kwindawo yokuqala ebomini babo, yaye babefanele babe nenzondelelo ekuxeleleni abanye ngabo. Ukuze bazivisisanise nengcaciso yeBhayibhile yabo baya kulondolozwa basinde kwimbandezelo enkulu bangene kwihlabathi elitsha likaThixo, bamele babe ngabantu ‘abadanduluka ngezwi elikhulu, besithi: Usindiso kuye uThixo wethu, lowo uhleli phezu kwetrone, nakuyo iMvana.’ (ISityhi. 7:10, 14) Ngowe-1937, njengokuba babesanda yaye nenzondelelo yabo ngeNkosi yayibonakala, bamenywa ukuba bancedise ekuthwaleni umthwalo wembopheleleko yokuvelela amabandla.

Phofu ke, bakhunjuzwa ukuba intlangano yekaYehova, asiyoyamntu. Kwakungayi kubakho mahluko phakathi kwentsalela yabo bathanjiswe ngomoya nabo besihlwele esikhulu sezinye izimvu. Babemele basebenze kunye njengabazalwana noodade enkonzweni kaYehova. Kunjengokuba uYesu wayethe, “Ndinazo nezinye izimvu, ezingezizo ezobu buhlanti; nazo ezo ndimelwe kukuza nazo; zaye ziya kuliva izwi lam, zibe mhlambi mnye, nomalusi abe mnye.” (Yoh. 10:16) Ubunyaniso boku babubonakala.

Kwakwenzeke iinguqulelo ezimangalisayo entlanganweni ngethutyana nje elingephi. Kodwa ngaba kwakusekho okuninzi ekwakusafuneka kwenziwe ukuze imicimbi yebandla iqhutywe ngokuvisisana ngokupheleleyo neendlela zikaYehova njengokuba zandlalwe eLizwini lakhe eliphefumlelweyo?

Intlangano Yobuthixo

Igama elithi, “theocracy” (ubuthixo) lithetha “ulawulo lukaThixo.” Ngaba amabandla ayelawulwa ngolawulo olunjalo? Ngaba ayengaphelelanga nje ekumnquleni uYehova kodwa ayekwakhangela kuye ukuba alathise imicimbi yawo yebandla? Ngaba ayevisisana ngokupheleleyo noko wayekutsho ngale micimbi kwiLizwi lakhe eliphefumlelweyo? Inqaku elinamacandelo amabini elithi “Intlangano” elaphuma kwiMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaJuni 1 neka-15, 1938, ngokuphandle lathi: “Intlangano kaYehova ayilawulwa ngokwedemokhrasi kwaphela. UYehova uphakamile, yaye urhulumente okanye intlangano yakhe yeyobuthixo ngokupheleleyo.” Ukanti, kumabandla asekuhlaleni amaNgqina kaYehova ngelo xesha, kwakusasetyenziswa iinkqubo zedemokhrasi ekunyuleni inkoliso yabo babephathiswe umsebenzi wokuvelela iintlanganiso nenkonzo yasentsimini. Kwakufanele kwenziwe iinguqulelo ezingakumbi.

Kodwa ngaba IZenzo 14:23 zazingabonisi ukuba emabandleni abadala babemele bakhethwe ‘ngokuphakanyiswa kwesandla,’ njengaxa kuvotwa? Elokuqala laloo manqaku eMboniselo ayenomxholo othi “Intlangano” lavuma ukuba kwixa elidluleyo le ndinyana yayiqondwa phosakeleyo. Babengamiselwa ‘ngokuphakamisa isandla’ kwawo onke amalungu ebandla phakathi kwamaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala. Kunoko, kwaboniswa ukuba ngabapostile nabo babegunyaziswe ngabo ‘ababephakamisa izandla.’ Oku kwakungenziwa ngokuba nenxaxheba kwivoti yebandla kodwa ngokubeka izandla kubantu abafanelekayo. Olu yayiluphawu lwesiqinisekiso, lwenkoliseko, okanye lokumiselwa.k Amabandla amaKristu akuqala maxa wambi ayencomela amadoda afanelekayo, kodwa unyulo lokugqibela nokukwamkela oko kwakusenziwa ngabapostile, ababeyalelwe nguKristu ngokuthe ngqo, okanye kwenziwe ngabo babegunyaziswe ngabapostile. (IZe. 6:1-6) IMboniselo yatsalel’ ingqalelo kwisibakala sokuba kuphela kukwiincwadi ezazisiya kubaveleli abanembopheleleko (uTimoti noTito) awathi umpostile uPawulos, ngolwalathiso lomoya oyingcwele, wanikela imiyalelo yokumisela abaveleli. (1 Tim. 3:1-13; 5:22; Tito 1:5) Akukho nanye kwiincwadi eziphefumlelweyo ezazisiya emabandleni equlethe imiyalelo enjalo.

Ngoko, babeza kumiselwa njani ngoku abo babeza kukhonza emabandleni? Indlela IMboniselo eyayichaza ngayo intlangano yobuthixo yabonisa ngokusuka eZibhalweni ukuba uYehova wamisela uYesu Kristu ‘wayintloko . . . yebandla’; nokuba xa uKristu njengeNkosi ebuya, wayeya kuphathisa ‘umkhonzi wakhe othembekileyo noqondayo’ imbopheleleko ‘phezu kwayo yonke impahla yakhe’; yaye lo mkhonzi uthembekileyo noqondayo wayebunjwa ngabo bonke abo basemhlabeni ababethanjiswe ngomoya oyingcwele ukuba babe ziindlalifa kunye noKristu nababekhonza ngokumanyeneyo ngaphantsi kolwalathiso lwakhe; yaye uKristu wayeya kusebenzisa olo didi lomkhonzi njengothunywashe wakhe wokulungiselela ukuvelelwa kwamabandla okuyimfuneko. (Kol. 1:18; Mat. 24:45-47; 28:18) Kwakuya kuba ngumsebenzi wodidi lomkhonzi ukuyihlolisisa ngomthandazo imiyalelo eyandlalwe ngokucacileyo eLizwini likaThixo eliphefumlelweyo, luyisebenzise ekugqibeni ngokuba ngoobani na ababefanelekela izikhundla zokukhonza.

Ekubeni uthunywashe obonakalayo owayeya kusetyenziswa nguKristu engumkhonzi othembekilyo noqondayo (yaye izibakala zembali yanamhlanje ezisele ziqwalaselwe zibonisa ukuba lo “mkhonzi” usebenzisa iWatch Tower Society njengothunywashe wasemthethweni), IMboniselo yacacisa ukuba ngokwenkqubo yobuthixo kwakuya kufuneka kumiselwe kwisigxina sokukhonza kusetyenziswa lo thunywashe. Kwananjengokuba amabandla enkulungwane yokuqala ayelihlonela iqumrhu elilawulayo elaliseYerusalem, ngoko namhlanje amabandla ayengayi kuphumelela ngokomoya ngaphandle kolwalathiso olufanayo.—IZe. 15:2-30; 16:4, 5.

Noko ke ukuze kugcinwe imibandela icacile, kwaboniswa ukuba xa IMboniselo yayibhekisela “kuMbutho,” oku kwakuthetha, kungekhona nje uthunywashe ongokwasemthethweni, kodwa iqela lamaKristu athanjisiweyo awayeyile loo ntlangano esemthethweni aza ayisebenzisa. Ngaloo ndlela eli binzana lalimela umkhonzi othembekileyo noqondayo neQumrhu lakhe Elilawulayo.

Kwanangaphambi kokuba kupapashwe amanqaku eMboniselo anomxholo othi “Intlangano” ngowe-1938, xa amabandla aseLondon, eNew York, eChicago, naseLos Angeles ayekhule kangangokuba kwakucebiseka ukuba ahlulwe abe ngamaqela amancinane, la maqela ayecele ukuba uMbutho umisele zonke izicaka zawo. Ngoku, inkupho (yesiNgesi) kaJuni 15, 1938, yeMboniselo yacela ukuba onke amanye amabandla enze okufanayo. Ukuze kwenziwe oko, kwacetyiswa ukuba kwenziwe esi sigqibo silandelayo:

“Thina, njengeqela labantu bakaThixo abanyulelwe igama lakhe, ngoku abase . . . . . . . . . . . . , siyaqonda ukuba urhulumente kaThixo ululawulo lobuthixo yaye uKristu Yesu usetempileni yaye nguye obamb’ iintambo kwintlangano kaYehova ebonakalayo, nengabonakaliyo, yaye ‘UMBUTHO’ ungummeli obonakalayo weNkosi emhlabeni, yaye ngoko ke siyawubongoza ‘UMbutho’ ukuba ulungelelanise eli qela lilungele ukukhonza uze umisele izicaka zalo ezahlukahlukeneyo, ukuze sonke sisebenze kunye ngoxolo, ngobulungisa, ngemvisiswano nomanyano olupheleleyo. Kwalapha sithumela uludwe lwamagama abantu abakweli qela ababonakala kuthi beqole ngokwaneleyo yaye ngoko ke ababonakala bekufanelekele ngokona kona ukuzalisa izikhundla ezahlukahlukeneyo zenkonzo.”l

Singathi onke amabandla amaNgqina kaYehova avumelana noku. Abo bambalwa barhoxobisayo kungekudala bayeka ukuba nesabelo ekuvakaliseni uBukumkani baza ngaloo ndlela bayeka ukuba ngamaNgqina kaYehova.

Iingenelo Zolwalathiso Lobuthixo

Kucacile ukuba, ukuba iimfundiso, imilinganiselo yokuziphatha, kunye neenkqubo zentlangano okanye zokunikela ubungqina zinokugqitywa ngokwendawo nganye, kungekudala intlangano yayinokuqalisa ukungafani yaye ingamanyani. Ngokulula nje abazalwana babenokwahlulwa zizinto ezingokwasentlalweni, izithethe, nobuhlanga. Kwelinye icala, ulwalathiso lobuthixo lwaluya kuqinisekisa ukuba iingenelo ezibangelwa kukwenza inkqubela yokomoya zaziya kufikelela kuwo onke amabandla emhlabeni wonke ngaphandle kokuphazanyiswa. Ngaloo ndlela kwakuya kubakho umanyano lokwenene uYesu awathandazela ukuba lubekho phakathi kwabalandeli bakhe bokwenyaniso, yaye umsebenzi wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo awayalela ukuba wenziwe wawunokufezwa ngokupheleleyo.—Yoh. 17:20-22.

Noko ke, abanye bathi ngokukhuthaza le nguqulelo kwintlangano, uJ. F. Rutherford wayezama nje ukufumana ulawulo olungakumbi kumaNgqina ibe wasebenzisa le ndlela ukuze abethelele elakhe igunya. Ngaba kwakunjalo ngokwenene? Alithandabuzeki elokuba uMzalwan’ uRutherford wayeyindoda eqinileyo kwiinkolelo zayo. Wayethetha ngokungafihlisiyo ibe engalalanisi koko wayekholelwa ukuba kuyinyaniso. Wayengacengi solala phi xa ejongene neemeko apho wayebona ukuba abantu babexhalabele iziqu zabo ngakumbi kunokuba babenjalo ngomsebenzi weNkosi. Kodwa uMzalwan’ uRutherford wayethobeke ngokwenene phambi koThixo. Kunjengokuba uKarl Klein, owaba lilungu leQumrhu Elilawulayo ngowe-1974, kamva wabhalayo: “Imithandazo kaMzalwan’ uRutherford kunqulo lwakusasa . . . yenza ndamthanda gqitha. Nangona ilizwi lakhe lalilikhulu gqitha, xa wayethetha noThixo wayeba ngathi yinkwenkwana ithetha noyise. Hayi ulwalamano oluhle noYehova oko okwakulubonakalisa!” UMzalwan’ uRutherford wayengayithandabuzi indlela intlangano kaYehova ebonakalayo eyayimele ibonakale ngayo, ibe wazabalazela ukuqinisekisa ukuba akukho mntu okanye qela labantu elaliya kuthintela abazalwana basekuhlaleni ukuba bafumane zonke iingenelo zokudla kokomoya nolwalathiso uYehova awayeludlulisela kubakhonzi Bakhe.

Nangona uMzalwan’ uRutherford waba ngumongameli weWatch Tower Society kangangeminyaka engama-25 waza wanikela onke amandla akhe ekuhambiseleni phambili umsebenzi wentlangano, wayengeyiyo inkokeli yamaNgqina kaYehova, ibe wayengafuni nokuba yiyo. Kwindibano eyayiseSt. Louis, eMissouri, ngowe-1941, ngaphambi nje kokuba afe, wathetha ngombandela wokhokelo, esithi: “Ndifuna naziphi na iindwendwe ezilapha zazi oko nikucingayo ngomntu oyinkokeli yenu, ukuze zingaze zilibale. Ngalo lonke ixesha kuvela okuthile kuze kuqalise ukukhula, zimele zithi kukho umntu othile oyinkokeli enabalandeli abaninzi. Ukuba kukho umntu okhoyo apha ophulaphuleyo ocinga ukuba mna, lo umi apha, ndiyinkokeli yamaNgqina kaYehova, makathi Ewe.” Kwathi nzwanga kuzolile, nzolo leyo eyayiphazanyiswa ngabathile kubaphulaphuli ababemana ukuthi “Hayi” beqinisekile. Isithethi saqhubeka: “Ukuba nina balapha nikholelwa ukuba ndingomnye nje wabakhonzi beNkosi, kwaye sisebenza ngaxhatha-linye ngokumanyeneyo, sikhonza uThixo yaye sikhonza uKristu, yithini Ewe.” Ngazwi linye indibano yahlokoma ngamxhelo mnye yathi “Ewe!” Kwinyanga elandelayo abaphulaphuli ababeseNgilani basabela ngendlela efanayo.

Kwiindawo ezithile iingenelo zolungelelwaniso lobuthixo zabonakala ngokukhawuleza. Kwezinye iindawo, zathabatha ixesha elidana; ekuhambeni kwexesha abo bangazange bazingqine bengabakhonzi abakhulileyo nabathobekileyo bashenxiswa, kwaza kwamiselwa abanye.

Sekunjalo, njengoko iinkqubo zobuthixo zaziqheleka ngakumbi, amaNgqina kaYehova akuvuyela ukuba namava oko kwachazwa kwangaphambili kuIsaya 60:17. Esebenzisa amazwi okomfuziselo ukuchaza imeko ephucukileyo eyayiya kubakho phakathi kwabakhonzi bakaThixo, apho uYehova uthi: “Esikhundleni sobhedu ndizisa igolide, esikhundleni sesinyithi ndizisa isilivere, esikhundleni semithi ubhedu, esikhundleni samatye isinyithi; isiveleli sakho ndisenze uxolo, abaphathi bakho ndibenze ubulungisa.” Oku kwakungachazi okwakuya kwenziwa ngabantu kodwa, kunoko, oko uThixo aya kukwenza neengenelo abakhonzi bakhe ababeya kuzifumana ukuba bayazithoba kuko. Kumele kubekho uxolo phakathi kwabo. Ukuthanda ubulungisa kumele kube ngamandla abashukumisela ukuba bamkhonze.

EseBrazil, uMaud Yuille, inkosikazi yomveleli wesebe, wabhalela uMzalwan’ uRutherford esithi: “Inqaku elithi ‘Intlangano’ [kwiMboniselo (yesiNgesi)] kaJuni 1 neka-15 [1938] lindishukumisela ukuba ndivakalise amazwi ambalwa kuwe, wena uYehova asebenzisa inkonzo yakho yokuthembeka, ndinombulelo kuYehova ngelungiselelo elimangalisayo alenzele intlangano yakhe ebonakalayo, njengokuba landlalwe kwezi Mboniselo zimbini. . . . Kutsho kweqabu ndisakubona ukuphela ‘koomaziphathe,’ kuquka amalungelo ‘abafazi’ nezinye iinkqubo ezingekhoyo ezibhalweni ebezibangela abantu abathile kufuneke bathobele iimbono zasekuhlaleni nezigqibo zabantu, kunokuba bazithobe [kuYehova uThixo noYesu Kristu], nto ezo ebezisizisa ugculelo kwigama likaYehova. Liyinyaniso elokuba yinto ‘yakutshanje ukuba uMbutho ubize bonke abasentlanganweni ngokuthi “izicaka”’, kodwa ndiphawula ukuba kangangeminyaka emininzi ngaphambi kwelo xesha kwimbalelwano yakho nabazalwana bakho ubuzichaza ngokuthi ‘umzalwana nomkhonzi onguwenu, ngobabalo Lwakhe’.”

Mayela nolu hlengahlengiso kwintlangano, isebe elikwiiBritish Isles lanikela le ngxelo: “Umphumo omhle woku ubumangalisa ngokwenene. Indlela ebumbongo nebuprofeti okuchazwe ngayo oku kuIsaya isahluko samashumi amathandathu intle kodwa ayibaxwanga. Wonke umntu osenyanisweni ebethetha ngayo. Ibingundaba-mlonyeni. Bekukho umoya wokukhuthazeka—ukulungela ukutyhalela phambili ngamandla edabini elinenjongo. Njengokuba ukungavisisani bekusanda ehlabathini, kulawulo lobuthixo bekukho uvuyo olukhulu.”

Abaveleli Abahambahambayo Bomeleza Amabandla

Inkonzo yabaveleli abahambahambayo yaluqinisa ngakumbi uqhagamshelwano lwentlangano. Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, umpostile uPawulos wawenza ngendlela ebalaseleyo loo msebenzi. Maxa wambi, amadoda anjengoBharnabhas, uTimoti noTito nawo aba nesabelo. (IZe. 15:36; Fil. 2:19, 20; Tito 1:4, 5) Bonke babengabashumayeli beendaba ezilungileyo abanenzondelelo. Ukongezelela, bawakhuthaza amabandla ngeentetho zabo. Xa kwakuphakama iimbambano ezazinokuchaphazela umanyano lwamabandla, ezi zazithunyelwa kwiqumrhu elilawulayo. Bathi ke, “xa babeyihamba imizi,” abo babephathiswe loo mbopheleleko “babanikela imimiselo ukuba bayigcine, leyo ibimiswe ngabapostile namadoda amakhulu aseYerusalem.” Ngawuphi umphumo? “Ayezimaseka ke ngoko amabandla elukholweni, esanda ngenani imihla ngemihla.”—IZe. 15:1–16:5; 2 Kor. 11:28.

Kwangeminyaka yee-1870, uMzalwan’ uRussell wayewatyelela amaqela aBafundi beBhayibhile—awayebunjwa ngabantu ababini okanye abathathu kwanamaqela amakhudlwana—ukuze awakhe ngokomoya. Abanye abazalwana abambalwa baba nesabelo ngeminyaka yee-1880. Kwaza ke, ngowe-1894, kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba uMbutho ube nezithethi ezifaneleka kakuhle eziza kuhambahamba ngokuthe rhoqo ukuze zincede aBafundi beBhayibhile bakhule ngolwazi nangoxabiso ngenyaniso nokuze basondelelane ngakumbi.

Ukuba kunokwenzeka, isithethi sasihlala usuku okanye mhlawumbi iintsuku eziliqela neqela elo, sinikele intetho yesidlangalala enye okanye ezimbini sandule ke sityelele amaqela amancinane ngakumbi okanye abantu ngabanye ukuze sixubushe nabo ngezinto ezinzulu ngakumbi zeLizwi likaThixo. Kwenziwa umgudu wokuba qela ngalinye eliseUnited States naseKhanada lityelelwe kabini ngonyaka, nangona ngokuqhelekileyo lalingatyelelwa ngumzalwana okwamnye. Xa kwakukhethwa ezi zithethi zihambahambayo, kwakugxininiswa kuphawu lokululama, ukuthobeka, nokuyiqonda ngokucacileyo inyaniso kwanokubambelela ngokunyanisekileyo kuyo nobuchule bokuyifundisa ngokucacileyo. Kubulungiseleli babo babengahlawulwa nepeni. Babelungiselelwa ukudla nendawo yokuhlala ngabazalwana basekuhlaleni, yaye kangangoko kunokwenzeka, uMbutho wawubanceda ngeendleko zokuhamba hamba. Bathi baziwa ngokuba ngabahambi ngezonqulo.

Inkoliso yaba bameli bahambahambayo boMbutho babethandwa gqitha ngabo babebakhonza. UA. H. Macmillan, waseKhanada, ukhunjulwa njengomzalwana elangqineka kuye iLizwi likaThixo ‘linjengomlilo otshayo.’ (Yer. 20:9) Wayengakwazi ukungathethi ngalo, ibe ke wayethetha, ethetha kubaphulaphuli kungekuphela nje eKhanada kodwa kwanakwiindawo ezininzi zaseUnited States nakwamanye amazwe. UWilliam Hersee, omnye umhambi ngezonqulo, ukhunjulwa ngokufudumeleyo ngenxa yengqalelo ekhethekileyo awayeyinikela kubantu abaselula. Kwanemithandazo yakhe ayilibaleki ngenxa yokuba yayibonakalisa ubumoya obunzulu obabuchukumisa iintliziyo zabaselula nabakhulileyo ngokufanayo.

Ukuhambahamba kwakungelula kubahambi ngezonqulo ngezo mini zamandulo. Ngokomzekelo, ukuze atyelele iqela elalikufuphi neeNgxangxasi zaseKlamath, eOregon, uEdward Brenisen wahamba okokuqala ngololiwe, wandula ke wahamba ubusuku bonke ngenqwelo yamahashe, waza okokugqibela wahamba ngenqwelo ekuthiwa yibuckboard eyamxikixa ukunyuka ezo ntaba ukuya kutsho kwifama ababeza kuhlanganisana kuyo. Kwasekuseni, ngosuku olulandelayo emva kokuhlanganisana kwabo, omnye umzalwana wamnika ihashe ukuba ahambe ngalo umgama onokuba ziikhilomitha ezili-100 ukuya kwesona sikhululo sikaloliwe sikufutshane ukuze akwazi ukuya kwisabelo sakhe esilandelayo. Obu yayibubomi obuqobayo, kodwa imigudu yabahambi ngezonqulo yaba nemiphumo emihle. Abantu bakaYehova bomelezeka, bamanyana kwindlela ababeliqonda ngayo iLizwi likaThixo, baza benziwa basondelelana ngakumbi nangona babeqelelene mpela ngokwemimandla.

Ngowe-1926, uMzalwan’ uRutherford waqalisa ukusebenzisa amalungiselelo athile awaguqula umsebenzi wabahambi ngezonqulo wayeka ukuba ngulowo wezithethi ezihambahambayo nje kuphela waba ngowabongameli abahambahambayo nabakhuthaza inkonzo yasentsimini emabandleni. Ukuze kubethelelwe iimbopheleleko zabo ezintsha, ngowe-1928 babizwa ngokuba ngabalathisi benkonzo benqila. Babesebenzisana kakuhle nabazalwana basekuhlaleni, bebanika imiyalelo ngokobuqu kwinkonzo yasentsimini. Ngeli xesha babekwazi ukufikelela ibandla ngalinye eUnited States nakwamanye amazwe phantse kanye ngonyaka, ngoxa bekwaqhagamshelana nabantu ngabanye namaqela amancinane awayengekalungelelaniselwa inkonzo.

Ebudeni beminyaka eyalandelayo, umsebenzi wabaveleli abahambahambayo waguqulwa kakhulu.a Wandiswa kakhulu ngowe-1938 xa zonke izicaka ezisemabandleni zazimiselwa ngendlela yobuthixo. Ukutyelelwa kwamabandla izihlandlo ezithe rhoqo ebudeni beminyaka embalwa eyalandelayo kwavulela ithuba lokusiqeqesha ngokobuqu ngasinye sezicaka ezimiselweyo nelokunikela uncedo olungakumbi kwinkonzo yasentsimini kubo bonke. Ngowe-1942, ngaphambi kokuba abaveleli abahambahambayo bathunyelwe emabandleni kwakhona, bafundiswa ngokucokisekileyo; umphumo waba kukuba umsebenzi wabo bawuqhuba ngendlela efanayo ngakumbi. Utyelelo lwabo lwalusiba lufutshane (usuku olunye ukuya kwezintathu, kuxhomekeka kubungakanani bebandla). Ebudeni belo xesha babehlola iingxelo zebandla, badibane nazo zonke izicaka ukuze banikele nasiphi na isiluleko esiyimfuneko, banikele intetho enye okanye ezingaphezu koko ebandleni, baze bakhokele kwinkonzo yasentsimini. Ngowe-1946 ithuba lotyelelo landiswa laba yiveki kwibandla ngalinye.

Kweli lungiselelo lokutyelela amabandla ngowe-1938 kongezelelwa inkonzo yesicaka senqila siphumeza indima entsha. Sasigubungela ummandla omkhudlwana, ngamathuba athile sichitha iveki naye ngamnye wabazalwana ababehambahamba kwicandelo elithile (isiphaluka) betyelela amabandla. Ebudeni botyelelo lwaso sasikhonza kucwangciso lwendibano ekwakusiya kuyo onke amabandla akwelo candelo.b Eli lungiselelo lalibakhuthaza kakhulu abazalwana kwaye lalivula ithuba lokubhaptizwa kwabafundi abatsha rhoqo.

“Umntu Oyithandayo Inkonzo”

Phakathi kwabo babenesabelo kule nkonzo ukususela ngowe-1936 kwakukho uJohn Booth, owathi, ngowe-1974, waba lilungu leQumrhu Elilawulayo. Xa kwakusenziwa udliwano-ndlebe naye njengalowo wayesenokuba ngumongameli ohambahambayo, waxelelwa oku: “Eyona nto ifunekayo asizozithethi zityibilikayo, kuphela nje kufuneka umntu oyithandayo inkonzo noya kukhokela kuyo aze athethe ngenkonzo ezintlanganisweni.” UMzalwan’ uBooth wayenalo olo thando ngenkonzo kaYehova, njengokuba kunokubonwa kwinkonzo yakhe yobuvulindlela yenzondelelo ukususela ngowe-1928, yaye wakhuthaza abanye ukuba babe nenzondelelo ngomsebenzi wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ngomzekelo wakhe namazwi okhuthazo.

Ibandla lokuqala awalityelelayo, ngoMatshi 1936, lalise-Easton, ePennsylvania. Kamva wabhala: “Ndandidla ngokufika endaweni ngexesha lenkonzo yasentsimini kusasa, ndibe nentlanganiso nezicaka zelo qela ngorhatya ndize emva koko ndibe nenye neqela liphela. Ngokuqhelekileyo ndandidla ngokuchitha iintsuku ezimbini kuphela neqela nosuku olunye kuphela neqela elincinane, maxa wambi ndityelela amaqela amancinane anjalo amathandathu ngeveki. Ndandingunyawo lwambeth’ indlela.”

Emva kweminyaka emibini, ngowe-1938, wabelwa ukuba abe sisicaka senqila, anyamekele indibano yecandelo (ngoku eyaziwa ngokuba yindibano yesiphaluka) veki nganye. Ezi zazinceda ekomelezeni abazalwana ngexesha lentshutshiso eqatha kwiindawo ezithile. Ekhumbula ezo mini neembopheleleko zakhe ezahlukahlukeneyo, uMzalwan’ uBooth wathi: “Kwangaloo veki [endandilingqina ngayo kwityala lenkundla lamaNgqina angama-60 eIndianapolis, eIndiana] ndandingummangalelwa kwelinye ityala eJoliet, eIllinois, ndiligqwetha lomzalwana kwelinye ityala eMadison, eIndiana, yaye, ukongezelela, ndinyamekela indibano yecandelo mpela-veki nganye.”

Emva kweminyaka emibini zihlaziyiwe ezi ndibano zamacandelo ngowe-1946 (ngoku njengeendibano zesiphaluka), uCarey Barber wayephakathi kwabo babenesabelo sokuba ngabaveleli besithili. Wayesele egqibe iminyaka engama-25 elilungu lentsapho yaseBheteli eBrooklyn, eNew York. Isithili sakhe sokuqala sasigubungela wonke ummandla ongasentshona weUnited States. Ekuqaleni, ubani wayemele ahambe malunga neekhilomitha ezili-1 600 veki nganye esuka kwenye indibano esiya kwenye. Njengokuba amabandla ayekhula yaye esanda, loo migama yancipha, yaye ngokufuthi kwakuqhutywa iindibano zesiphaluka eziliqela kummandla omnye oyintloko. Emva kweminyaka engama-29 engumveleli ohambahambayo, uMzalwan’ uBarber wamenyelwa ukuba abuyele kwikomkhulu lehlabathi ngowe-1977 njengelungu leQumrhu Elilawulayo.

Ebudeni bamaxesha emfazwe nentshutshiso eqatha, ngokufuthi abaveleli abahambahambayo babebeka inkululeko nobomi babo engozini ukuze banyamekele impilo-ntle yokomoya yabazalwana babo. Ebudeni bexesha lokulawulwa kweBelgium ngamaNazi, uAndré Wozniak waqhubeka ewatyelela amabandla ibe enceda ngokuwanika uncwadi. Wayesoloko efunwa shushu ngamaGestapo kodwa awazange ade aphumelele ukumbamba.

Ngasekupheleni kweminyaka yee-1970 eRhodesia (ngoku eyaziwa ngokuba yiZimbabwe), abantu babehlala besoyika, yaye kwakungahanjwa kakhulu ngexesha lemfazwe yamakhaya. Kodwa abaveleli abahambahambayo bamaNgqina kaYehova, njengabalusi nabaveleli abanothando, bangqineka ‘benjengendawo yokuzimela umoya’ kubazalwana babo. (Isa. 32:2) Bambi babehamba iintsuku eziliqela emahlathini, besihla benyuka iintaba, bewela imilambo enobungozi, ebusuku belala phandle—konke oku bekwenza ukuze bafikelele amabandla nabavakalisi abakwanti, ukuze babakhuthaze bahlale beqinile elukholweni. Phakathi kwaba singabala uIsaiah Makore, owasinda cebetshu xa iimbumbulu zazidlula phezu kwentloko yakhe kwidabi elaliphakathi kwamajoni karhulumente “nabalweli benkululeko.”

Abanye abaveleli abahambahambayo kangangeminyaka emininzi bebekhonza intlangano kumazwe ngamazwe. Abongameli beWatch Tower Society ngokufuthi bebesiya kwamanye amazwe ukuze banikele ingqalelo kwiintswelo zentlangano nokuze banikele iintetho ezindibanweni. Ukutyelela okunjalo kuye kwenza lukhulu ukunceda amaNgqina kaYehova ezindaweni zonke ahlale ebuphaphele gqitha ubuzalwana bawo bomhlaba wonke. UMzalwan’ uKnorr wayewenza rhoqo ngokukhethekileyo lo msebenzi, etyelela isebe nekhaya ngalinye labavangeli basemazweni. Njengokuba intlangano yayikhula, umhlaba wahlulwa wangamacandelo alishumi amazwe ngamazwe, yaye ukususela ngoJanuwari 1, 1956, abazalwana abafanelekayo, ngaphantsi kolwalathiso lomongameli, baqalisa ukuncedisa kule nkonzo ukuze ikwazi ukunikelwa ingqalelo rhoqo. Oko kutyelelwa kwamacandelo, ngoku okuqhutywa ngaphantsi kolwalathiso lweKomiti Yenkonzo yeQumrhu Elilawulayo, kuyaqhubeka kunegalelo kumanyano lomhlaba wonke nokuhambela phambili kwentlangano iphela.

Sekunjalo, kwenzeke nenye inkqubela ephawulekayo eye yaba negalelo ekubeni intlangano ilungelelane njengoko injalo namhlanje.

Ukulungelelaniswa Okungakumbi Kolawulo Lobuthixo

Kanye ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi II, uJoseph F. Rutherford wafa, ngoJanuwari 8, 1942, waza uNathan H. Knorr waba ngumongameli wesithathu weWatch Tower Society. Intlangano yayicinezeleke ngamandla ngenxa yokuvalwa komsebenzi wayo kumazwe amaninzi, ugonyamelo lwamahlokondiba olwaluqhubeka egameni lokuthand’ izwe, nokubanjwa kwamaNgqina njengokuba ayesasaza uncwadi lweBhayibhile kubulungiseleli bawo basesidlangalaleni. Ngaba utshintsho ekonganyelweni komsebenzi lwaluza kubangela ukudodobala kwawo ngexesha elinzima kangako? Abazalwana ababenyamekela imicimbi yolawulo bakhangela kuYehova ukuba abalathise yaye abasikelele. Ngokuvisisana nomnqweno wabo wokukhokelwa nguThixo, bayihlolisisa kwakhona indlela intlangano eyayilungelelaniswe ngayo ukuze babone enoba kwakukho iinkalo ezazisafuna ukuvisisaniswa ngakumbi neendlela zikaYehova kusini na.

Kwandula ke, ngowe-1944 kwaqhutywa indibano yenkonzo ePittsburgh, ePennsylvania, idityaniswa nentlanganiso yonyaka yeWatch Tower Society. NgoSeptemba 30, ngaphambi kwaloo ntlanganiso yonyaka, kwanikelwa ungcelele lweentetho ezibaluleke kakhulu ngoko iZibhalo zikutshoyo ngokulungelelaniswa kwabakhonzi bakaYehova.c Kwanikelwa ingqalelo kwiQumrhu Elilawulayo. Ngeso sihlandlo kwagxininiswa kwelokuba kumele kusebenze umgaqo wobuthixo kubo bonke oothunywashe ababesetyenziswa ludidi lomkhonzi othembekileyo noqondayo. Kwacaciswa ukuba asingabo bonke abantu bakaThixo “abazinikeleyo” abangamalungu ombutho osemthethweni. Umbutho uyabamela nje kuphela, unguthunywashe osemthethweni omela bona. Noko ke, kanye njengokuba uMbutho wawunguthunywashe wokupapasha osetyenziselwa ukulungiselela amaNgqina kaYehova uncwadi oluqulethe ukhanyiselo lokomoya, ngokusengqiqweni nanjengokuba kuyimfuneko iQumrhu Elilawulayo lalinxulumene ngokusondeleyo namagosa nabalathisi baloo Mbutho usemthethweni. Ngaba imigaqo yobuthixo yayilandelwe ngokupheleleyo kwimicimbi yawo?

Umgaqo-siseko woMbutho wawunelungiselelo labantu abanezabelo ekwakusithi kulo mntu ngamnye owayenikela isimbuku seedola ezili-10 (zaseUnited States) abe nelungelo lokuvota xa kukhethwa amalungu equmrhu labalathisi namagosa oMbutho. Mhlawumbi kwakubonakala ngathi iminikelo enjalo yayinikela ubungqina bomdla wokwenene kumsebenzi wentlangano. Noko ke, eli lungiselelo lalineengxaki zalo. uMzalwan’ uKnorr, umongameli woMbutho, wacacisa: “Ngokusuka kweli lungiselelo lomgaqo-siseko woMbutho, kubonakala ngathi ukuba lilungu lequmrhu elilawulayo kwakuxhomekeke kwiminikelo edluliselwa kuMbutho osemthethweni. Kodwa ngokokuthanda kukaThixo oku kwakungenakuba njalo phakathi kwabantu bakhe bokwenyaniso abakhethiweyo.”

Laliyinyaniso elokuba uCharles Taze Russell, owayengoyena ubalaseleyo kwiqumrhu elilawulayo kangangeminyaka engama-32 yokuqala yoMbutho, wayengoyena unikela kakhulu ngemali, ngamandla akhe omzimba, nawengqondo kuMbutho. Kodwa asingomnikelo wakhe wemali owenza ukuba iNkosi imsebenzise ngendlela eyenza ngayo. Yayiluzahlulelo lwakhe olupheleleyo, inzondelelo yakhe engapheliyo, ukungalalanisi kwakhe ekumeleni uBukumkani bukaThixo, nokunyaniseka nokuthembeka kwakhe okungenakugungqiswa okwamenza wafanelekela loo nkonzo emehlweni kaThixo. Mayela nolungelelwaniso lobuthixo, kusebenza lo mgaqo: “UThixo wawamisa amalungu, lalelo nelo emzimbeni, njengoko wathandayo.” (1 Kor. 12:18) UMzalwan’ uKnorr wacacisa, “Noko ke, kanye njengokuba umgaqo-siseko woMbutho wawunelungiselelo lokuba abo babenikela ngemali kumsebenzi woMbutho banikwe ilungelo lokuvota, watyekela ekuwenzeni ungacaci okanye ube buthathaka lo mgaqo Wobuthixo ngokubhekisele kwiqumrhu elilawulayo; kwakhona uye watyekela ekulenzakaliseni okanye ekwenzeni kubekho imiqobo ethile.”

Ngenxa yoko, kwintlanganiso engokwasemthethweni yabo bonke abanelungelo lokuvota abangamalungu oMbutho eyaqhutywa ngo-Oktobha 2, 1944, ngamxhelo mnye kwavotelwa ukuba umgaqo-siseko woMbutho uhlaziywe kwakhona uze uvisisaniswe ngakumbi nemigaqo yobuthixo. Ngoku inani lamalungu laliya kuba lelingaqingqwanga kodwa laliza kuba phakathi kwama-300 nama-500, onke awayeza kuba ngamadoda akhethwe liqumrhu labalathisi, kungekhona ngokusekelwe kwiminikelo yemali, kodwa ngenxa yokuba bengamaNgqina kaYehova aqolileyo, akhutheleyo nathembekileyo awayekhonza ixesha elizeleyo emsebenzini wentlangano okanye awayengabalungiseleli abakhutheleyo emabandleni amaNgqina kaYehova. La malungu ayeya kuvotela iqumrhu labalathisi, yaye iqumrhu labalathisi laliya kukhetha amagosa alo. La malungiselelo matsha aqalisa ukusebenza ngonyaka olandelayo, ngo-Oktobha 1, 1945. Hayi indlela okuye kwangqineka kuyinkuselo ngayo oku ngexesha ebekusithi ngokufuthi amaqela anobutshaba asebenzise imisebenzi yezoshishino ukuze alawule imibutho aze ayilungelelanisele ukuba ivumelane neenjongo zawo!

Intsikelelo kaYehova kula manyathelo enkqubela okuzivisisanisa nemigaqo yobuthixo iye yabonakala. Phezu kwako nje ukucinezelwa ngokuqatha kwentlangano ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi II, inani labavakalisi boBukumkani laqhubeka lisanda. Bengayeki, baqhubeka ngamandla benikela ubungqina ngoBukumkani bukaThixo. Ukususela ngowe-1939 ukusa kowe-1946, kwabakho ulwando olumangalisayo lwe-157 ekhulwini phakathi kwamaNgqina kaYehova, yaye afikelela amazwe amathandathu angakumbi ngeendaba ezilungileyo. Ebudeni beminyaka engama-25 eyalandelayo, inani lamaNgqina akhutheleyo landa phantse ngamanye ama-800 ekhulwini, yaye anikela ingxelo ethe rhoqo yokusebenza kumazwe angama-86 angakumbi.

Uqeqesho Olukhethekileyo Lwabaveleli

Bambi abakhi-mkhanya bayibona ingenakuphepheka into yokuba xa intlangano yayisiya ikhula, imilinganiselo yayo yayiya kuhla. Kodwa, ngokwahlukileyo koko, iBhayibhile yaxela kwangaphambili ukuba ubulungisa noxolo zaziya kubalasela phakathi kwabakhonzi bakaYehova. (Isa. 60:17) Ukuze kube njalo kwakuya kufuneka abaveleli abanenkathalo bafundiswe ngenyameko nangokuqhubekayo ngeLizwi likaThixo, ukuyiqonda ngokucacileyo imilinganiselo yakhe yokusesikweni, nokusetyenziswa ngokufuthi kwaloo milinganiselo. Imfundo enjalo iye yanikelwa. Ufundisiso olucokisekileyo lweemfuno zikaThixo zobulungisa luye lwanikelwa ngokuthe ngcembe kwiMboniselo, yaye le nkcazelo iye yafundisiswa ngendlela elungelelanisiweyo ngawo onke amabandla amaNgqina kaYehova emhlabeni wonke. Kodwa, ukongezelela koko, kuye kwanikelwa imfundo eyongezelelekileyo kubaveleli bomhlambi.

Abo bakwizikhundla zokuvelela kumasebe oMbutho baye bahlanganiselwa uqeqesho olukhethekileyo ngamaxesha eendibano zezizwe ngezizwe. Ukususela ngowe-1961 ukusa kowe-1965, baye baqhutyelwa izifundo ezilungiselelwe ngokukhethekileyo, zeenyanga ezisibhozo ukuya kwezilishumi, eNew York. Ukususela ngowe-1977 ukusa kowe-1980, balungiselelwa olunye ungcelele lwezifundo ezikhethekileyo zeeveki ezintlanu. Uqeqesho lwabo lwaluquka ukufundisiswa kwendinyana nendinyana yazo zonke iincwadi zeBhayibhile kwanokuqwalaselwa kweenkcukacha zentlangano neendlela zokuhambisela phambili umsebenzi wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo. Akukho yantlukwano yobuhlanga phakathi kwamaNgqina kaYehova. Kungakhathaliseki apho ahlala khona, abambelela kwimilinganiselo efanayo ephakamileyo yeBhayibhile yaye akholelwa ibe afundisa izinto ezifanayo.

Kuye kwanikelwa ingqalelo ekhethekileyo nakubaveleli besiphaluka nabesithili. Uninzi lwabo luye lwaya kwiSikolo seWatchtower seBhayibhile saseGiliyadi okanye kwesinye seZikolo ezingamaSebe aso. Ngamathuba athile, bakwahlanganiswa nakwiiofisi zamasebe zoMbutho, okanye bahlanganisana kwezinye iindawo ezifanelekileyo, ukwenzela izifundo zeentsuku ezimbalwa okanye iveki.

Ngowe-1959 kwaqaliswa elinye ilungiselelo elibalaseleyo. Eli yayisiSikolo Sobulungiseleli soBukumkani, ekwaya kuso abaveleli besiphaluka nabesithili nabaveleli bamabandla. Saqalisa sizizifundo zenyanga yonke. Emva kokuba siqhutyiwe kangangonyaka eUnited States, umbandela wezi zifundo waguqulelwa kwezinye iilwimi waza ngokuthe ngcembe wasetyenziswa emhlabeni wonke. Ekubeni kwakungenakwenzeka ukuba bonke abaveleli benze amalungiselelo okuba bangabikho emisebenzini yabo inyanga yonke, esi sikolo senziwa saziiveki ezimbini ukususela ngowe-1966.

Esi yayingesiso isikolo sokuqeqesha abefundisi apho amadoda ayeqeqeshelwa ukumiselwa. Abo babesiya kuso babesele bengabalungiseleli abamiselweyo. Inkoliso yabo yayisele ingabaveleli nabalusi bomhlambi kangangamashumi eminyaka. Izifundo zabo zazilithuba lokuxubusha ngokweenkcukacha imiyalelo engomsebenzi wabo ngokusuka eLizwini likaThixo. Kwagxininiswa kakhulu kwimbaluleka yobulungiseleli basentsimini nendlela yokubenza ngokunempumelelo. Ngenxa yokuguquka kwemilinganiselo yokuziphatha ehlabathini, kwachithwa nexesha elininzi kuxutyushwa ngokuphakanyiswa kwemilinganiselo yeBhayibhile yokuziphatha. Ezi zifundo ziye zenziwa kumaxesha akutshanje ngezikolo eziqhutywa emva kweminyaka emibini okanye emithathu, kwanangeentlanganiso eziluncedo eziqhutywa ngabaveleli abahambahambayo kunye nabadala basekuhlaleni izihlandlo eziliqela ngonyaka. Ezi zivula ithuba lokunikela ingqalelo ekhethekileyo kwiintswelo ezikhoyo ngelo xesha. Zithintela ukukhukuliseka kwimilinganiselo yeBhayibhile, yaye zinegalelo ekusingathweni kwezinto ngendlela efanayo emabandleni onke.

AmaNgqina kaYehova anikela ingqalelo kwisiluleko esikweyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 1:10: “Ndiyaniyala, bazalwana, ngalo igama leNkosi yethu, uYesu Kristu, ukuba nithethe nto-nye nonke, nokuba kungabikho zahlukahlukano kuni; ke nibe ngabalungisiweyo, nigqibelele ngqiqweni-nye, nasicamangweni sinye.” Le asiyomvisiswano ebakho ngokunyanzeliswa; ingumphumo wokufunda iindlela zikaThixo njengokuba zibhalwe eBhayibhileni. AmaNgqina kaYehova ayazithanda iindlela neenjongo zikaThixo. Ukuba athile awasakuvuyeli ukuphila ngokuvisisana nemilinganiselo yeBhayibhile, akhululekile angayishiya intlangano. Kodwa ukuba nawaphi na aqalisa ukushumayela ezinye iinkolelo okanye atyeshela ukuziphatha okuchazwa yiBhayibhile, abaveleli bathabatha amanyathelo okukhusela umhlambi. Intlangano isebenzisa esi siluleko seBhayibhile: “Balumkeleni abo benza iimbambaniso nezikhubekiso, ezinxamnye nemfundiso enayifundayo nina, niphambuke kubo.”—Roma 16:17; 1 Kor. 5:9-13.

IBhayibhile yaxela kwangaphambili ukuba uThixo wayeya kubangela kubekho imeko enjalo kanye phakathi kwabakhonzi bakhe, leyo ekwakuya kubalasela ubulungisa kuyo yaye ivelise isiqhamo esiluxolo. (Isa. 32:1, 2, 17, 18) Abantu abakuthandayo oko kulungileyo batsaleleka gqitha kwiimeko ezinjalo.

Bangaphi abathandi bobulungisa abanjalo abaya kuhlanganiswa ngaphambi kokuphela kwale nkqubo indala? AmaNgqina kaYehova akazi. Kodwa uYehova uyazi ukuba umsebenzi wakhe uya kufuna ntoni, yaye ngelilelakhe ixesha nangendlela yakhe uqinisekisa ukuba intlangano yakhe ixhotyiselwe ukukunyamekela oko.

Ukulungiselela Ulwando Olukhawulezayo

Xa kwakusenziwa uphando ngaphantsi kokhokelo lweQumrhu Elilawulayo kulungiselelwa incwadi yeembekiselo ethi Aid to Bible Understanding, kwakhona kwanikelwa ingqalelo kwindlela ibandla lamaKristu lenkulungwane yokuqala elalilungelelaniswe ngayo. Ahlolisiswa ngenyameko amabinzana eBhayibhile anjengathi “indoda enkulu,” “umveleli,” nelithi “umlungiseleli.” Ngaba intlangano yanamhlanje yamaNgqina kaYehova yayinokuzivisisanisa ngokupheleleyo nomgaqo owawulondolozwe eZibhalweni njengokhokelo?

Abakhonzi bakaYehova babezimisele ukuqhubeka bethobela ulwalathiso lukaThixo. Kungcelele lweendibano ezaqhutywa ngowe-1971, kwanikelwa ingqalelo kumalungiselelo okulawulwa kwebandla lamaKristu okuqala. Kwaboniswa ukuba ibinzana elithi pre·sbyʹte·ros (indoda enkulu, umdala), elisetyenziswe eBhayibhileni, lalingapheleliselwanga kubantu abakhulileyo, yaye lingasebenzi nakubo bonke ababeqolile ngokomoya ebandleni. Lalisetyenziswa ngokukhethekileyo ngengqiqo yokuba kwisikhundla esithile kubhekiselwa kubaveleli bamabandla. (IZe. 11:30; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-3) Aba babezifumana izikhundla zabo ngokumiselwa, ngokuvisisana neemfuneko ezaba yinxalenye yeZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo. (IZe. 14:23; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tito 1:5-9) Apho kwakukho amadoda afanelekayo awaneleyo, kwakukho abadala abangaphezu komnye ebandleni. (IZe. 20:17; Fil. 1:1) Aba babebumba “intlanganiso yamadoda amakhulu,” babekwisikhundla esifanayo bonke, yaye kubo kwakungekho olelona lungu libalaseleyo okanye linegunya ebandleni. (1 Tim. 4:14) Kwacaciswa ukuba, ukuze kuncediswe abadala kwakhona kwakumiselwe “izicaka zolungiselelo,” (NW) ngokuvisisana neemfaneleko ezandlalwe ngumpostile uPawulos.—1 Tim. 3:8-10, 12, 13.

La malungiselelo aqalisa kwangoko ukusebenza ukuze intlangano ivisisaniswe ngakumbi nalo mzekelo useBhayibhileni. La aqalisa kwiQumrhu Elilawulayo. Amalungu ayo andiswa adlulela ngaphaya kwamalungu asixhenxe equmrhu labalathisi beWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, awayekhonza njengequmrhu elilawulayo lamaNgqina kaYehova. Inani lamalungu eQumrhu Elilawulayo lalingaqingqwanga. Ngowe-1971, ayeli-11; kangangeminyaka embalwa, ebefika kwi-18; ngowe-1992, ebeli-12. Onke angamadoda athanjiswe nguThixo njengeendlalifa kunye noYesu Kristu. La ali-12 ebekhonza njengamalungu eQumrhu Elilawulayo ngowe-1992 ewonke ebekhonze iminyaka engama-728 kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo njengabalungiseleli bakaYehova uThixo.

NgoSeptemba 6, 1971, kwagqitywa kwelokuba kubekwe usihlalo omtsha weentlanganiso zeQumrhu Elilawulayo nyaka ngamnye ngokolandelelwano loonobumba bokuqala lweefani zamalungu alo. Oku kwaqalisa ukusebenza ngo-Oktobha 1. Kwakhona amalungu eQumrhu Elilawulayo atshintshisana, veki nganye, ngokongamela kunqulo lwakusasa neSifundo seMboniselo sabo basebenza kwikomkhulu.d Eli lungiselelo laqalisa ukusebenza ngoSeptemba 13, 1971, xa uFrederick W. Franz wakhokelayo kucwangciso lonqulo lwakusasa kwikomkhulu loMbutho eBrooklyn, eNew York.

Kunyaka olandelayo, kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuhlengahlengisa ukuvelelwa kwamabandla. Kwakungasayi kuphinda kubekho isicaka sebandla esinye kuphela esincediswa linani eliqingqiweyo lezinye izicaka. Amadoda awayefaneleka ngokweZibhalo ayeya kumiselwa ukukhonza njengabadala. Amanye, azifikelelayo iimfaneleko zeBhayibhile, ayeya kumiselwa abe zizicaka zolungiselelo. Oku kwavula indlela yokuba abantu abaninzi ngakumbi babe nesabelo kwiimbopheleleko zebandla yaye ngaloo ndlela bazuze amava axabisekileyo. Akukho namnye wamaNgqina kaYehova ngoko owayesazi ukuba inani lamabandla laliza kwanda nge-156 ekhulwini kwiminyaka engama-21 elandelayo, lifikelele isimbuku sama-69 558 ngowe-1992. Kodwa iNtloko yebandla, iNkosi uYesu Kristu, ngokucacileyo yayilungiselela oko kwakuza kwenzeka.

Ekuqaleni kweminyaka yee-1970, kwacingisiswa ngokulungelelaniswa ngakumbi kweQumrhu Elilawulayo. Kususela ekusekweni kweWatch Tower Society ngowe-1884, ukupapashwa koncwadi, ukwalathiswa komsebenzi wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo emhlabeni wonke, namalungiselelo ezikolo neendibano ayenyanyekelwa ngaphantsi kolwalathiso lomongameli weWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Kodwa emva kohlolisiso lwenyameko nokuxutyushwa kweenkcukacha kangangeenyanga ezininzi, ngamxhelo mnye kwamkelwa ilungiselelo elitsha ngoDisemba 4, 1975. Kwasekwa iikomiti ezintandathu zeQumrhu Elilawulayo.

IKomiti Kasihlalo (ebunjwa ngulowo ungusihlalo weQumrhu Elilawulayo, usihlalo obengaphambi kwakhe, nalowo uza kuba ngusihlalo olandelayo) yamkela iingxelo zeengozi neentlekele ezinkulu, neentshutshiso, yaye iqinisekisa ukuba ezi kuhlangatyezwana nazo ngokukhawuleza liQumrhu Elilawulayo. IKomiti Yokubhala yongamela ukubhalwa nokurekhodwa kwiikhasethi nakwiikhasethi zevideo kokutya kokomoya kokondla amaNgqina kaYehova noko kusasazwa kuwonke wonke, yaye ivelela umsebenzi wokuguqulela ngamakhulu eelwimi. Imbopheleleko yeKomiti Yokufundisa kukunyamekela izikolo neendibano, kwaneendibano zesithili nezezizwe ngezizwe, zabantu bakaYehova, kwanokufundiswa kwentsapho yaseBheteli kwanokulungiselela umbandela omele usetyenziselwe ezo njongo. IKomiti Yenkonzo yongamela zonke iinkalo zomsebenzi wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo, kuquka umsebenzi wamabandla nowabaveleli abahambahambayo. Ukushicilelwa, ukupapashwa, nokuthunyelwa koncwadi nokusebenza kwemizi-mveliso nokunyanyekelwa kwemicimbi engokwasemthethweni neyoshishino konke konganyelwa yiKomiti Yokupapasha. Yandula ke iKomiti Yabasebenzi ivelele amalungiselelo okuncedwa ngokobuqu nangokomoya kwamalungu entsapho yaseBheteli yaye inembopheleleko yokubiza amalungu amatsha ukuba aze kukhonza kwiintsapho zaseBheteli emhlabeni wonke.

Nezinye iikomiti ezongezelelekileyo eziluncedo zabelwa ukuvelela imizi-mveliso, amakhaya aseBheteli, neefama ezinxulumene nekomkhulu lehlabathi. Kwezi komiti iQumrhu Elilawulayo libusebenzisa ngokuzeleyo ubuchule bamalungu ‘esihlwele esikhulu.’—ISityhi. 7:9, 15.

Kwenziwa nohlengahlengiso kwindlela yokuvelelwa kwamasebe oMbutho. Ukususela ngoFebruwari 1, 1976, sebe ngalinye belivelelwa yikomiti yamalungu amathathu nangakumbi, kuxhomekeka kwiintswelo nobungakanani besebe. Ezi komiti zisebenza ngaphantsi kokhokelo lweQumrhu Elilawulayo ekunyamekeleni umsebenzi woBukumkani kummandla ezikuwo.

Ngowe-1992, kuye kwanikelwa uncedo olungakumbi kwiQumrhu Elilawulayo xa iqela labancedisi, ubukhulu becala abangabesihlwele esikhulu, liye labelwa ukuba nenxaxheba kwiintlanganiso zekomiti Yokubhala, Yokufundisa, Yenkonzo, Yokupapasha neYabasebenzi.e

Oku kwabiwa kweembopheleleko kuye kwangqineka kuneengenelo kakhulu. Kunye nohlangahlengiso olusele lwenziwe kakade emabandleni, kuye kwanceda ukushenxisela ecaleni nayiphi na imiqobo ebinokubaphazamisa abantu abathile bangaqondi ukuba uKristu uyiNtloko yebandla. Kuye kwangqineka kuyingenelo ngokwenene ukuba ibe liqela labazalwana elicebisanayo ngemibandela echaphazela umsebenzi woBukumkani. Ukongezelela, oku kulungelelaniswa kwakhona kwenze kwaba nokwenzeka ukunikela ukhokelo olufunekayo kwiindawo ezininzi obelufuneka kuzo ngokungxamisekileyo ngexesha apho intlangano ibikhula ngesantya esingathethekiyo. Kwakudaladala, uYehova waxela kwangaphambili ngomprofeti uIsaya: “Omncinanana uya kuba liwaka, noweyeleyo abe luhlanga olunamandla. Mna, Yehova, ndiya kukukhawulezisa oko ngexesha lako oko.” (Isa. 60:22) Akaphelelenga ngokukukhawulezisa nje kuphela oko kodwa ukwalungiselele ulwalathiso oluyimfuneko ukuze intlangano yakhe ebonakalayo ikwazi ukukunyamekela.

Umdla wamaNgqina kaYehova ngoku usemsebenzini uThixo awanike wona kule mihla yokugqibela yeli hlabathi lidala, yaye alungelelaniswe kakuhle ukuba awufeze. AmaNgqina kaYehova abona ubungqina obucacileyo bokuba le ntlangano asiyiyo eyabantu kodwa yekaThixo nokuba uNyana kaThixo, uYesu Kristu, uyayalathisa. NjengoKumkani olawulayo, uYesu uya kubalondoloza abalawulwa bakhe abathembekileyo ukuphumela kwimbandezelo enkulu ezayo aze aqinisekise ukuba balungelelaniswe kakuhle ukuba bafeze ukuthanda kukaThixo ebudeni beWaka Leminyaka ezayo.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

Ukususela ngowe-1938 ukusa kowe-1941, izicaka zenqila, kwindima entsha, zazikhonza rhoqo kwiindibano zasekuhlaleni, apho amaNgqina asuka kummandla othile (icandelo) ayehlanganisana ukuze aphulaphule ucwangciso olukhethekileyo. Xa lo msebenzi wahlaziywayo ngowe-1946, aba baveleli abahambahambayo baziwa ngokuba zizicaka zesithili; ngoku, abaveleli besithili.

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 204]

Udidi lwabefundisi lwalungenandawo phakathi kwabo

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 205]

Abazami ukuseka “intlangano yasemhlabeni”

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 206]

Babekhethwa njani abadala?

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 212]

Umalathisi wayemiselwa nguMbutho

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 213]

Bambi abadala babengafuni ukushumayela ngaphandle ebandleni

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 214]

Ukunciphisa amanani abo babenxulumana nebandla kodwa ukomeleza intlangano

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 218]

Umiselo lwalumele lwenziwe njani?

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 220]

Ngaba uRutherford wayezama nje ukufumana ulawulo olungakumbi?

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 222]

Ukunxibelelana namaqela abantu ababini nabathathu namakhudlwana

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 223]

Iimbopheleleko ezintsha zabaveleli abahambahambayo

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 234]

IQumrhu Elilawulayo elandisiweyo elinosihlalo otshintsha-tshintshayo

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 235]

Ukhokelo oluyimfuneko ngexesha lolwando olungathethekiyo

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 207]

Yintoni Eyabangela Kwakho Inguqulelo?

Xa wabuzwa ngokuguquka kwembono yakhe ngendlela yokukhethwa kwabadala kumaqela awahlukahlukeneyo abantu beNkosi, uC. T. Russell waphendula:

“Okokuqala mandikhawuleze ndiniqinisekise ukuba andizange ndithi andinakuphazama. . . . Asiphiki ukuba ulwazi lwethu luyakhula, nokuba ngoku sikubona ngendlela eyahlukileyo ukuthanda kweNkosi ngokuphathelele abaDala okanye iinkokeli kumaqela amancinane awahlukahlukeneyo abantu bayo. Impazamo yethu ibikukulindela okungaphaya kwamandla abazalwana bethu abathandekayo abathe, ekubeni bengene kuqala eNyanisweni, ngokuzenzekelayo baba ziinkokeli zala maqela mancinane. Imbono efanelekileyo ngabo ebesinegugu ngayo ibiyeyokuba, ulwazi lweNyaniso lwaluya kubenza bathobeke kakhulu, lubabangele baqonde ukuba bona abanto yanto, nokuba nantoni na abayazileyo nabakwazileyo ukuyidlulisela kwabanye bayenze kuba bebezizithethi zikaThixo nangenxa yokuba bebesetyenziswa nguye. Amathemba ethu afanelekileyo ibingawokuba aba baya kuthi ngandlela zonke babe yimizekelo kumhlambi; nokuba ukuba ulwalathiso lweNkosi lunokubangela ukuba omnye kubo kwibandla elincinane okanye abangakumbi abaneemfaneleko ezifanayo, okanye ezingakumbi, banikele iNyaniso, ukuba umoya wothando uya kubakhokelela ekubeni babe nembeko ukuze bahlonelane, yaye ngaloo ndlela bancedane yaye bakhuthazane ukuba baqhubeke enkonzweni yeCawa, umzimba kaKristu.

“Sicinga ngoku sigqibe kwelokuba imilinganiselo engakumbi yobabalo nenyaniso ngoku ekhoyo nexatyiswayo ngabantu beNkosi abazinikeleyo iya kwenza kungabi yomfuneko ukuba balandele ikhondo elandlalwe ngabapostile kwiCawa yokuqala. Impazamo yethu ibe kukusilela ukuqonda ukuba amalungiselelo andlalwe ngabapostile ngaphantsi kolwalathiso lukaThixo ongamile kunayo nantoni na enokuqulunqwa ngabanye, yaye kuya kufuneka ukuba iCawa iphela iyithobele imithetho eyachazwa ngabapostile de, xa senziwe kumila kumbi eluvukweni, sibe sonke senziwe sagqibelela yaye safezeka yaye sinxulumene ngokuthe ngqo neNkosi.

“Ngokuthe ngcembe impazamo yethu iye yasikhanyela njengoko siye sabona umoya othile wokhuphiswano phakathi kwabazalwana abathandekayo, yaye abaninzi benqwenela ukukhokela kwiintlanganiso ngokungathi sisikhundla kunokuba ibe yinkonzo, yaye bengafuni ibe bebathintela ekubeni bakhulele ekubeni ziinkokeli abanye abazalwana abanobuchule bemvelo obufanayo nabanolwazi olulinganayo lweNyaniso nobuchule bokusebenzisa ikrele loMoya.”—“Zion’s Watch Tower,” Matshi 15, 1906, iphe. 90.

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 208, 209]

Izakhiwo Ezazisetyenziswa NguMbutho Kwinkulungwane Edluleyo Kummandla wasePittsburgh

IBible House, eboniswe apha, yayilikomkhulu kangangeminyaka eli-19, ukususela ngowe-1890 ukusa kowe-1909f

UMzalwan’ uRussell wayefundisisa apha

Amalungu entsapho yaseBible House awayekhonza apha ngowe-1902

Kwesi sakhiwo kwakukho neli sebe lokulungiselela ukushicilela (ngasentla ekunene), isebe lokuthumela (ezantsi ngasekunene), indawo yokugcina uncwadi, indawo yokuhlala abasebenzi, kwanesakhiwo senkonzo (iholo yendibano) ekwakunokuhlala malunga nama-300 kuso

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 211]

Ngumsebenzi Kabani?

Ngasekupheleni kobomi bakhe basemhlabeni, uCharles Taze Russell wabhala: “Ngokufuthi abantu bakaThixo bayalibala ukuba yiNkosi ekhokelayo emsebenzini Wayo. Ngokufuthi bacinga ukuba, Siya kwenza umsebenzi size sicele uThixo asebenze nathi emsebenzini wethu. Masibe nembono efanelekileyo ngalo mbandela, size siqonde ukuba uThixo unenjongo yokuba kwenziwe umsebenzi omkhulu yaye uyawuphumeza; ibe uya kuphumelela, ngokupheleleyo kungakhathaliseki ukuba singoobani na okanye ungakanani na umgudu esiwenzayo; ibe kulilungelo elingathethekiyo elinikwe abantu bakaThixo ukusebenza noMenzi wabo ekuphumezeni iinjongo Zakhe, amacebo Akhe, amalungiselelo Akhe, ngendlela Yakhe. Ukuba sinale mbono ngemicimbi, sifanele sithandaze kwaye silinde sinenjongo yokwazi ukuthanda kweNkosi nokukwenza, sanelisekile yiyo nayiphi na indima ekuthiwa masiyifeze, ekubeni inguThixo wethu osikhokelayo. Le yinkqubo iWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society ekhethe ukuyilandela.”—“IMboniselo,” (yesiNgesi) Meyi 1, 1915.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 215]

Imibuzo Yabo Baza Kuba Zii-V.D.M.

Oonobumba abathi V.D.M. bamela amagama esiLatin athi “Verbi Dei Minister,” okanye uMlungiseleli weLizwi likaThixo.

Ngowe-1916 uMbutho walungiselela uludwe lwemibuzo yemibandela yeZibhalo. Abo babeza kumela uMbutho njengezithethi babecelwa ukuba babhale iimpendulo zabo kumbuzo ngamnye. Oku kwenza uMbutho wazazi iingcinga, iimbono, noko babekuqonda aba bazalwana mayela neenyaniso ezisisiseko zeBhayibhile. Iimpendulo ezibhaliweyo zazihlolwa ngenyameko liqumrhu labahloli kwiiofisi zoMbutho. Abo babegqalwa njengabafanelekayo njengezithethi babemele bafumane ama-85 ekhulwini nangaphezulu.

Kamva, abadala, abadikoni nabanye aBafundi beBhayibhile abaninzi bacela ukuba babe nalo olu ludwe lwemibuzo. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, kwathiwa kwakuya kuba yingenelo ukuba iiklasi zazinokunyula njengabameli bazo kuphela abantu ababefaneleka njengee-V.D.M.

Xa uMbutho wawudlulisela isidanga soMlungiseleli weLizwi likaThixo, oku kwakungathethi ukuba loo mntu wayemiselwe. Kwakuthetha nje ukuba iqumrhu labahloli kwiiofisi zoMbutho laliyihlolisisile indlela loo mntu akhule ngayo kwiimfundiso ezisisiseko, yaye ngomlinganiselo osengqiqweni nendlela aziwa ngayo, laza lagqiba kwelokuba wayekufanele ukubizwa njengoMlungiseleli weLizwi likaThixo.

Imibuzo yabo baza kuba zii-V.D.M. imi ngolu hlobo:

(1) Yintoni awayidala kuqala uThixo?

(2) Lithetha ukuthini igama elithi “Logos,” xa linxulunyaniswa noNyana kaThixo? yaye iyintoni intsingiselo yegama elithi Bawo nelithi Nyana?

(3) Isono sangena nini yaye njani ehlabathini?

(4) Siyintoni isohlwayo sikaThixo sesono kuboni? yaye ngoobani abangaboni?

(5) Kutheni kwaba yimfuneko ukuba u-“Logos” abe yinyama? aze “enziwe umntu”?

(6) Wayekweyiphi imo uMntu onguKristu Yesu ukususela ebusaneni ukusa ekufeni?

(7) UYesu ukweyiphi imo ukususela ekuvusweni kwakhe; yaye ukwesiphi isikhundla xa ethelekiswa noYehova?

(8) Uyintoni umsebenzi kaYesu ebudeni beli Xesha leVangeli—ixesha elisusela ngePentekoste ukuza kutsho ngoku?

(9) Ukuza kuthi ga ngoku uYehova uThixo sele elenzele ntoni ihlabathi loluntu? ibe uYesu yena ulenzele ntoni?

(10) Iyintoni injongo kaThixo ngeCawa isakuba iphelele?

(11) Iyintoni injongo kaThixo ngehlabathi loluntu?

(12) Siya kuba yintoni isiphelo sabo baqaqadekileyo?

(13) Nguwuphi umvuzo okanye iintsikelelo eziya kufunyanwa lihlabathi loluntu ngenxa yokuthobela uBukumkani bukaMesiya?

(14) Ngawaphi amanyathelo anokunceda umoni afumane ulwalamano olubalulekileyo noKristu noBawo waseZulwini?

(15) Emva kokuba umKristu ezelwe ngoMoya Oyingcwele, liliphi ikhondo amele alilandele, njengokuba lisalathwa liLizwi likaThixo?

(16) Ngaba usilahlile isono ngenjongo yokukhonza uThixo ophilayo?

(17) Ngaba ubunikele ngokupheleleyo ubomi bakho nawo onke amandla nobuchule bakho eNkosini nasenkonzweni yayo?

(18) Ngaba olu zinikelo ulufuzisele ngokuntywiliselwa emanzini?

(19) Ngaba usenzile isiFungo se-I. B. S. A. [International Bible Students Association] sobungcwele bobomi?

(20) Ngaba uyifunde ngokucokisekileyo nangenyameko imiqulu emithandathu yencwadi ethi STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES?

(21) Ngaba uzuze ukukhanya neengenelo ezininzi kuyo?

(22) Ngaba ucinga ukuba unolwazi olwaneleyo noluya kuhlala luhleli lweBhayibhile oluya kukwenza ube ngumkhonzi onempumelelo ngakumbi weNkosi kubo bonke ubomi bakho obusaseleyo?

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 216, 217]

Izakhiwo Ezazisetyenziswa Ngemihla Yamandulo EBrooklyn

IKhaya LaseBheteli

122-124 Columbia Heights

Igumbi lokudlela kwiKhaya laseBheteli

ITabernacle

Iiofisi, indawo yokugcina uncwadi, isebe lokuthumela, izixhobo zokulungiselela ukushicilela, kunye neholo elungiselelwe ukuhlala abantu abangama-800 zazilapha, e-17 Hicks Street (yayisetyenziswa ukususela ngowe-1909 ukusa kowe-1918)

Iholo

Imizi-mveliso Yokuqala

Amalungu entsapho yaseBheteli awayesebenza kumzi-mveliso owawuseMyrtle Avenue ngowe-1920 (ekunene)

35 Myrtle Avenue (1920-22)

18 Concord Street (1922-27)

117 Adams Street (1927- )

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 224, 225]

Abaveleli Abahambahambayo Imbinana Kumawaka Aye Akhonza

EKhanada, 1905-33

ENgilani, 1920-32

EFinland, 1921-26, 1947-70

EUnited States, 1907-15

Ukusuka kwelinye ibandla ukuya kwelinye—

EGreenland

EVenezuela

ELesotho

EMexico

EPeru

ESierra Leone

Indawo yokuhlala ekwayinqwelo-mafutha eNamibia

Ukuba nesabelo kunye namaNgqina asekuhlaleni kwinkonzo yasentsimini eJapan

Intlanganiso nabadala basekuhlaleni eJamani

Ukunikela isiluleko esisebenzisekayo koovulindlela eHawaii

Ukufundisa ibandla eFransi

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 229]

Imibutho Engokwasemthethweni Yokuqala

IZion’s Watch Tower Tract Society. Yasekwa okokuqala ngowe-1881 yaza yenziwa umbutho ongokwasemthethweni kwilizwana lasePennsylvania ngoDisemba 15, 1884. Ngowe-1896 igama layo laguqulwa laba yiWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Ukususela ngowe-1955 ibisaziwa ngokuba yiWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.

IPeoples Pulpit Association. Yasekwa ngowe-1909 ekufudukeleni kweeofisi eziyintloko zoMbutho eBrooklyn, eNew York. Ngowe-1939 igama layo laguqulwa laba yiWatchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc. Ukususela ngowe-1956 ibisaziwa ngokuba yiWatchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

I-International Bible Students Association. Yabhaliswa njengombutho eLondon, eNgilani, ngoJuni 30, 1914.

Ukuze kuhlangatyezwane neemfuneko ezingokwasemthethweni, amaNgqina kaYehova aye aseka neminye imibutho kwiindawo nakumazwe amaninzi. Noko ke, amaNgqina kaYehova awahlukahlukenanga aba ziintlangano zobuhlanga nezemimandla. Abubuzalwana obumanyeneyo bomhlaba wonke.

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 234]

‘Njengebutho LamaKristu Lamandulo’

Impapasho yonqulo ethi “Interpretation” yathi ngoJulayi 1956: “Kwindlela alungelelaniswe ngayo nakumsebenzi wawo wokushumayela, [amaNgqina kaYehova] angawona asondelayo kunalo naliphi na iqela ekuxeliseni ibutho lamaKristu lamandulo. . . . Ambalwa amanye amaqela azisebenzisa kakhulu kangako iZibhalo kwisigidimi sawo, esithethwayo nesibhaliweyo, njengokuba wona esenza.”

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 210]

Ukuze kunikelwe ulwalathiso olungakumbi, kwasekwa iiofisi zamasebe. Eyokuqala yayiseLondon, eNgilani, kwesi sakhiwo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 221]

UJ. F. Rutherford ngowe-1941. AmaNgqina ayesazi ukuba wayengeyonkokeli yawo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 226]

UJohn Booth, owayengumveleli ohambahambayo eUnited States of America ukususela ngowe-1936 kuse ngowe-1941

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 227]

UCarey Barber, owayesebenza kwisithili esasiquka inxalenye enkulu yelaseUnited States

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 228]

UMzalwan’ uKnorr wayetyelela rhoqo isebe nekhaya ngalinye labavangeli basemazweni

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 230]

Abo bakwizikhundla zokuvelela kumasebe oMbutho baye bahlanganiswa ukuze bafumane uqeqesho olukhethekileyo (eNew York, 1958)

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 231]

ISikolo Sobulungiseleli soBukumkani siye sanikela imfundo exabisekileyo kubaveleli emhlabeni wonke

ISikolo Sobulungiseleli soBukumkani kwinkampu yeembacu eThailand ngowe-1978; kwiiPhilippines, 1966 (ngasentla ekhohlo)

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 232]

Imiyalelo yentlangano iye yapapashwa ngokuthe ngcembe (okokuqala ngesiNgesi, kwaza kwalandela ezinye iilwimi) ukuze kulungelelaniswe umsebenzi wamaNgqina nokuze kwaziswe bonke ngamalungiselelo enziwayo okubanceda kubulungiseleli babo