Isahluko 3—Isikhathi Sobunyama Kwezenkolo

Encwadini yakhe yesibili kwabaseThesalonika, umpostoli uPhawuli waveza ukuhlehlela emuva okwakuzakuza ebandleni kuphethe ngokusungulwa kombuso wabopapa. Wachaza ukuthi usuku lokuza kukaKrestu lwalungeke lufike, “...kungakaveli ukuhlamuka kuqala, kwambulwe oMubi, indodana yokulahlwa, omelana lakho konke okubizwa ngokuthi nguNkulunkulu, loba okukhonzwayo aze ahlale ethempelini likaNkulunkulu azenze uNkulunkulu ezibiza ngokuthi unguNkulunkulu.” 2 Thesalonika 2:3.4. Nxa eqhubeka exwayisa abazalwane bakhe uthi “ngoba amandla afihlakeleyo obubi asesebenza.” 2 Thesalonika 2:7. Lasesikhathini ayephila kiso, wananzelela ukuthi kwasekukhona imfundiso zamanga ezazinyonyobela ebandleni njalo ezazizabangela ukusungulwa kokubusa kwabopapa. {GC 49.1}IEP 49.1

Kancane kancane, ngokunyenya okufihlakeleyo, kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi obaleni imfundiso leyi yangena ebandleni yakhula ngamandla yathola indlela yokulawula ingqondo zabantu, “ amandla afihlakeleyo obubi” aqhubeka ngomsebenzi wawo wokudukisa lowokuhlambaza. Ngesikhatshana kungekho onanzelelayo imikhuba yesihedeni yangena ebandleni lesiKrestu. Umoya wokwehlisa izinga lokulunga ngenxa yokufuna ukwamukelwa emhlabeni, wamiswa okwesikhatshana ngesikhathi sokuhlukunyezwa lokubulawa kwabantu ngaphansi kombuso walabo ababekhonza izithixo. Kodwa nxa ukuhlukunyezwa kwasekuphelile, lemfundiso yamaKrestu isingene ezigodlweni lasezindlini zababusi, konke ukuzehlisa kukaKrestu lokwabafundi bakhe kwabekwa eceleni endaweni yakho kwangena ukuziphakamisa lokuzibonakalisa kwabapristi lababusi bezithixo, njalo lapho okwakulemithetho kaNkulunkulu khona kwafakwa imfundiso lamasiko abantu. Lokho okwakubonakale sengathi kwakuyikuphenduka kukaConstantine, ekuqaleni kweminyaka engamakhulu amane ngemva kokuzalwa kukaKrestu (4th century), kwaletha intokozo enkulu, okwabangela ukuthi umhlaba wembhathe ingubo yokulunga, ungene uzihwedela ebandleni. Ngalesi isikhathi umsebenzi wenkohlakalo waqhubeka ngesiqubu esimangalisayo. Ukukhonzwa kwezithixo, lobanje kwakubonakala sengathi kwasekutshabalele, kwaqala ukuphumelela. Umoya wokukhonzwa kwezithixo yiwo owaqala ukulawula ibandla. Imfundiso lenkonzo zezithixo kwangeniswa enkolweni lekukhonzeni kwalabo ababezibiza ngokuthi ngabalandeli bakaKrestu. {GC 49.2}IEP 49.2

Lokhu kwehliswa kwezinga phakathi kwenkolo yezithixo leyesiKrestu, kwabangela ukubunjwa “ kwendoda yobubi” eyayichazwe emazwini esiprofethi njengalowo omelana njalo loziphakamisayo ngokuzibeka phezu kukaNkulunkulu. Inhlanganiso enkulu yenkolo yamanga ingumphumela yamandla kaSathane, njalo iyibufakazi bemizamo yakhe yokuzikhweza esihlalweni ukuba abuse umhlaba ngokwentando yakhe. {GC 50.1}IEP 50.1

USathane wake imizamo yokuthi uJesu ehlise izinga lokukholwa kwakhe. Weza eNdodaneni kaNkulunkulu enkangala yokulingwa, wambonisa imibuso yonke lenkazimulo yayo, wamthembisa ukumnika yona nxa wayezavuma ukumkhothamela yena inkosi yobumnyama. UJesu wamnika amazwi alukhuni umlingi okwamenza ukuthi amtshiye ahambe. Kodwa uSathane uyaphumelela kakhulu lamuhla ngokuletha izilingo ezifananayo ebantwini. Ngenxa yokufuna ukuhlonitshwa lenzuzo yomhlaba, ibandla leli lazithola selifuna ukuxhaswa lokuthandwa ngabakhulu bomhlaba, ngokwenzenjalo lamphika uKrestu, ibandla lathunganyelelwa ukuthi lilandele ummeli kaSathane ongumbhishopi waseRoma. {GC 50.2}IEP 50.2

Kungeyinye yemfundiso enkulu ebandleni laseRoma eyokuthi upapa uyinhloko ebonakalayo yebandla lonke likaKrestu, njalo lokuthi wanikwa amandla aphakemeyo phezu kwamabhishopi labafundisi emhlabeni wonke jikelele. Phezu kwalokhu upapa wazinika amabizo kaNkulunkulu. Ulokubizwa ngokuthi “iNkosi uNkulunkulu uPapa”, njalo abuye atsho ukuthi yena kayenzi amaphutha ayenziwa ngabantu njalo abuye afune ukuthi abantu bonke bamkhonze. Amazwi afananayo asetshenziswa nguSathane enkangala yokulingwa, akhulunywa nguSathane lamhlanje esebenzisa ibandla laseRoma, njalo inengi labantu lilungele ukumnika inhlonipho leyi. {GC 50.3}IEP 50.3

Kodwa bonke abesabayo njalo labakhonza uNkulunkulu bamelana lokuzikhukhumeza lokhu okubonisa ukudelela ngitsho lezulu ngokwalo ngendlela efanana laleyo uKrestu ayisebenzisa ukumelana lesitha esiyingcitshi yokudukisa engamazwi athi, “Uzakukhonza iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho, uhloniphe yena yedwa.” Luka 4:8. UNkulunkulu kanikanga ngitsho lombono owodwa elizwini lakhe mayelana lokuthi kukhona umuntu ambeke njengenhloko yebandla lakhe emhlabeni. Imfundiso yokuphakamisa upapa iphikisana mathupha lalokho okulotshwe eBhayibhilini. Upapa ngeke abelamandla phezu kwebandla likaKrestu ngaphandle kokuthi azinike yena ngokusebenzisa udlame. {GC 51.1}IEP 51.1

Laba abakhonza ebandleni leRoma bahlezi besola amabandla emvuselelo besithi bangabahlamuki ngoba bazihlukanisa lebandla labo leqiniso. Kodwa lokhu kusolwa kumele kusetshenziswe kibo ngoba kuyibo abaphuma emfundisweni yeqiniso. Yibo ababeka phansi uphawu lukaKrestu baphuma “ekukholweni okwanikwa abangcwele ekuqaleni.” Juda 3. {GC 51.2}IEP 51.2

USathane wayekwazi sobala ukuthi uMbhalo oNgcwele uzanika abantu amandla okunanzelela ukudukisa kwakhe njalo lawokumelana lamandla akhe. Kwakungenxa yokusebenzisa umbhalo okwenza ukuthi ngitsho loMsindisi amelane lokuhlasela kwakhe. Kuzo zonke izilingo uKrestu wasebenzisa ihawu leqiniso elaphakade elingamazwi athi, “Kulotshiwe.” Kukho konke okwakukhulunywa nguSathane wamphikisa esebenzisa amandla elizwi. Ukwenzela ukuthi uSathane ayenelise ukwehlula abantu, njalo aqinise amandla kapapa, wabona kufanele ukuthi bahlale bengayazi imibhalo. Wayesazi ukuthi iBhayibhili lalizaphakamisa uNkulunkulu njalo libeke umuntu ofayo endaweni yakhe emfaneleyo, ngenxa yalokho, amaqiniso alo angcwele kwakumele afihlwe njalo ancindezelwe. Umcabango lowu wathathwa wasetshenziswa libandla laseRoma. Okwamakhulu eminyaka iBhayibhili lasuswa ebantwini kwenziwa icala ukulidlulisela kwabanye. Abantu babengavunyelwa ukulibala lokubalalo ezindlini zabo njalo abapristi labanye abathungameli bebandla ababehamba ngokungaqondi benza imizamo yokuchasisa imfundiso yalo ngendlela yokuthi livumelane lokuzenzisa kwabo. Ngale indlela upapa wamukelwa njengomeli kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni, waba lamandla phezu kwebandla kanye lesizwe. {GC 51.3}IEP 51.3

Ugwalo oluveza sobala amanga akhe selususiwe, uSathane waqala ukwenza intando yakhe emhlabeni. Amazwi esiprofethi ayetshilo ukuthi umbuso wobupapa “uzanakana ukuguqula izikhathi lemithetho.” Daniyeli 7:25. Kazange aphuze ukuzama ukuwenza umsebenzi lowu. Ngenxa yokufuna ukuthi banike labo ababengene ebandleni besuka ekukhonzeni izithixo indlela yokuqhubeka bekhonza izithixo zabo, njalo langenxa yokufisa ukuthi bamukelwe njengabantu abamukele isiKrestu, ukuhlonipha okukhulu lokukhonza izithombe kanye labangcwele asebafayo, kwangeniswa ebandleni kancane kancane. Ekucineni kwabekwa umthetho owawukuvumela konke lokhu (Second Council of Nice, AD 787). Ukuqedisa umsebenzi wokuphambanisa isiKrestu, ibandla leRoma laqala ukukhipha emthethweni kaNkulunkulu umthetho wesibili oxwayisa ukuthi abantu bengakhonzi izithombe, basebequma umthetho wokucina kwelitshumi phakathi laphakathi ukwenzela ukuthi leyabo imithetho ihlale ilitshumi njengaleyi etholakala eBhayibhilini. {GC 51.4}IEP 51.4

Umoya wokuvumela labo abakhonza izithixo ukuthi bangene ebandleni, wavula indlela yokwamukela ezinye imfundiso ezabangela ukuthi amandla ezulu aphikwe. USathane wasebenzisa abathungameli bebandla, wenza imizamo yokuguqula umthetho wesine wabeka eceleni iSabatha, usuku uNkulunkulu ayelubusisile (Genesisi 2:2,3) endaweni yalo wafaka usuku lwangeSonto okwakulusuku lokukhonza ilanga. Utshintsho lolu aluzange lwenziwe mgceke ekuqaliseni. Emnyakeni yakuqala iSabatha leqiniso laligcinwa ngamaKrestu wonke. Babengayekethisi nxa kwakusiza ekuhlonipheni uNkulunkulu, njalo babekholwa ukuthi umthetho wakhe kawuguquki ngakho bayifukamela imfundiso yawo bayigodla. Kodwa ngobukhulu ubuqili uSathane wasebenzisa izithunywa zakhe ukuthi zilethe injongo yakhe ebandleni. Ukwenzela ukuthi abantu balwamukele usuku lweSonto, lwenziwa ukuthi lube lusuku lapho okwakusenziwa khona imidlalo njalo lokuthokozela ukuvuka kukaJesu. Inkonzo zaqala ukwenziwa ngalolusuku lanxa lwaluthathwa njengosuku lokuzithokozisa, ngesikhathi esifanayo usuku lweSabatha lwalulokhe luhlonitshwa njengosuku olungcwele. {GC 52.1} IEP 52.1

Nxa wayelungiselela umsebenzi ayezawenza ensukwini ezazizakuza, uSathane wayesebenzise amaJuda ngaphambi kokuza kukaKrestu ukuthi afake imithetho enzima kakhulu phezu komthetho weSabatha okwabangela ukuthi ukugcinwa kosuku lweSabatha kube ngumthwalo onzima njalo lobuhlungu. Esekwenzile lokhu waletha imfundiso yokuthi usuku lolu lwalulisiko lwamaJuda kuphela hatshi umthetho kaNkulunkulu. Nxa amaKrestu ayeqhubeka ethokoza ekugcineni kwabo usuku lwangeSonto, ukwenzela ukuthi babonise inzondo yabo yenkolo yamaJuda, wenza ukuthi usuku lweSabatha lube lusuku lokuzila, losuku losizi njalo lolokudangala. {GC 52.2} IEP 52.2

Ngemva kweminyaka engamakhulu amane ezelwe uKrestu, umbusi uConstantine wabeka umthetho owenza ukuthi usuku lwangeSonto lube ngumkhosi wabantu bonke embusweni wamaRoma. Usuku lokukhonzwa kwelanga olwaluhlonitshwa ngabakhonza izithixo, khathesi lwaseluhlonitshwa ngamaKrestu, leyi kwakuyindlela yakhe yokubambanisa injongo ezazingahambisani lezabantu ayebabusa. Watshelwa ukuthi akwenze lokhu ngabathungameli bebandla, ababefuqwa ngumoya wokufuna amandla okubusa, bananzelela ukuthi nxa lolusuku lwalusamukelwa ngamaKrestu lalabo ababekhonza izithixo, kwakuzakwenza ukuthi amandla lenkazimulo yebandla iphakame. Lanxa amaKrestu ayemesaba uNkulunkulu ayesethunganyelwe ukuthi agcine usuku lwangeSonto ngcwele, baqhubeka bebambelele eSabatheni leqiniso njengosuku olungcwele lweNkosi, beligcina njengokulotshiweyo emlayweni wesine. {GC 53.1}IEP 53.1

Umlingi omkhulu wayengakawuqedi umsebenzi wakhe. Wayezimisele ukwenza ukuthi inkolo yamaKrestu ibengaphansi kophawu lwakhe esebenzisa umeli wakhe upapa olokuziphakamisa njalo ozibiza ngokuthi ungumeli kaKrestu emhlabeni. Ngokusebenzisa abantu ababesuka enkolweni yezithixo njalo bengaphendukanga ngokupheleleyo, labathungameli bebandla ababefuna ukuphumelela kwezomhlaba, lamalunga ebandla ayethanda umhlaba, wenelisa ukufeza injongo yakhe. Imihlangano emikhulu, yenziwa kanengi lapho okwakuhlangana endaweni eyodwa abathungameli bebandla ababephuma ezizweni zonke. Emhlanganweni leyi, iSabatha lalinyathezelwa phansi kancane kancane, ngakolunye uhlangothi usuku lwangeSonto lwaluphakanyiswa. Ngokunjalo usuku lokukhonzwa kwezithixo lwaphakanyiswa lwabekwa njengosuku olungcwele, usuku lweSabatha lwenziwa isiko lamaJuda, njalo kwabekwa isiqalekiso phezu kwalabo ababegcina usuku lwesikhombisa ngcwele. {GC 53.2}IEP 53.2

Umhlamuki omkhulu wayesenelisile ukuzikhukhumeza “phezu kwakho konke okuthiwa nguNkulunkulu, loba okhonzwayo.” 2 Thesalonika 2:4. Wayeseguqulile umlayo owodwa ochazela abantu ngokucacileyo uNkulunkulu weqiniso njalo lophilayo. Emlayweni wesine, uNkulunkulu uvezwa njengoMdali wezulu lomhlaba, ngokunjalo uyahlukaniswa labonkulunkulu bamanga. Kwakuyindlela yesikhumbuzo somsebenzi wokudala okwabangela ukuthi usuku lwesikhombisa lungcweliswe njengosuku lokuphumula alwaluyenzelwe abantu bonke. Lwenzelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ahlale engqondweni zabantu njengoMdali ofanele ukukhonzwa lokuhlonitshwa. USathane uyazama ukuthi abantu bangathembeki kuNkulunkulu, lokuthi bangahloniphi imilayo yakhe, ngakhoke usebenzisa wonke amandla akhe ukususa umlayo owodwa oveza uNkulunkulu njengoMdali. {GC 53.3}IEP 53.3

Amabandla emvuselelo lamuhla afundisa ukuthi ukuvuka kukaJesu ethuneni ngeSonto, kwenza ukuthi usuku lolu lube liSabatha lamaKrestu. Kodwa abukho ubufakazi lobu eBhayibhilini. UJesu labafundi bakhe abazange baluphakamise usuku lolu. Ukukhonza ngosuku lwangeSonto kwasungulwa ngaphansi “kwamandla wobubi afihlakeleyo” 2 Thesalonika 2:7, ayeseqalile ukusebenza ngesikhathi umpostoli uPhawuli esaphila. INkosi yamukela ngaphi njalo nini umntwana lowu wabopapa? Yisiphi isizatho esibambekayo esingaphiwa esisekela utshintsho lolu olungekho eMbhalweni na? {GC 54.1}IEP 54.1

Ngomnyaka wekhulu lesithupha, umbuso wobupapa wasewuqinile kakhulu. Isihlalo sawo sokubusa sasisedolobheni elikhulu laseRoma, njalo ubhishopi weRoma wayesenikwe isikhundla sokuba yinhloko yebandla lonke. Inkolo yezithixo yayisinike inkolo yobupapa isikhundla eyayikade ilaso phezu kwabantu bonke. Umgobho wawusunike isilo “amandla lesihlalo sawo, legunya elikhulu.” Isambulo 13:2. Kwasekuqala isikhathi seminyaka eyinkulungwane lamakhulu amabili lamatshumi ayisithupha (1260 days) sochuku lombuso wobupapa esilotshwe encwadini yesiprofethi kaDanyeli lekaSambulo. (Danyeli 7:25, Isambulo 13:5-7.) AmaKrestu abanjwa ngamandla ukuthi akhethe phakathi kokulahla ukholo lwabo balandele ukukhonzwa kwabopapa lokuvalelwa emajele, kumbe ukutshiswa ngomlilo, loba ukuqunywa amakhanda. Lokhu kwagcwalisa amazwi kaJesu athi: “Lizakunikelwa, ngabazali, labafowenu, lezihlobo zenu, labangane benu, abanye benu bazakwenza ukuthi libulawe. Lizakuzondwa ngabantu bonke ngenxa yebizo lami.” Luka 21:16,17. Ukuhlukunyezwa kwehlela abathembekileyo ngolaka olwalungakaze lubonakale, njalo umhlaba waphenduka waba yindawo yempi enkulu. Okwamakhulu eminyaka ibandla likaNkulunkulu lathola ukuphepha endaweni ezisitheleyo lezifihlakeleyo. Umprofethi ukuchaza ngalawa amazwi: “Owesifazane wabalekela enkangala, lapho okwakulendawo ayeyilungiselwe nguNkulunkulu, ukuba ondliwe khona insuku eziyinkulungwane lamakhulu amabili lamatshumi ayisithupha.” Isambulo 12:6. {GC 54.2}IEP 54.2

Ukuthola isihlalo sombuso okwenziwa libandla leRoma kwasungula isikhathi sobunyama. Nxa amandla alo ayelokhe ekhula, umnyama lawo wawulokhe ukhula. Ukholo lwasuswa kuKrestu oyinsika yeqiniso, lwabekwa kupapa weRoma. Kulokuthi abantu bathembele eNdodaneni kaNkulunkulu onguye othethelela izono zabo, bona baqala ukuya kupapa, lakubapristi, lakubathungameli bebandla upapa ayebanike amandla okuthethelela izono. Abantu bafundiswa ukuthi upapa wayengumeli wabo emhlabeni njalo lokuthi kakho ongayakuNkulunkulu ngaphandle kokudlula kuye, lokuthi wayemi esikhundleni sikaNkulunkulu ngalokho kwakufanele ahlonitshwe kungekho umbuzo. Ukuphambuka okuncane emfundisweni yakhe, kwakusiba yisizatho esifaneleyo sokujeziswa ngendlela ebuhlungu emzimbeni lasemphefumulweni yabo bonke ababetholakele belecala. Ngokwenza njalo, ingqondo zabantu zasuswa kuNkulunkulu zaya ebantwini benyama abalamaphutha lolunya, phezu kwalokho, zaqondiswa kuSathane ngokwakhe owayesebenza ngezinceku zakhe ayezinike amandla. Isono safihlwa ngaphansi kwengubo yobungcwele. Nxa iMbhalo yaseyincindezelwe, njalo sekulomuntu owayezikhukhumeza, kumele sikhangele kuphela sibone inkohlakalo lenkohliso yokuzinothisa, lobuqili njalo lokungaziphathi kahle. Ngenxa yokuphakanyiswa kwemithetho lamasiko oluntu, kwabonakala inkohlakalo ehlala isibakhona engumphumela wokususa umthetho kaNkulunkulu ebantwini. {GC 55.1}IEP 55.1

Lezo kwakuzinsuku ezaziyingozi ebandleni likaKrestu. Labo ababekholwa ngokweqiniso basala beyingcosana. Loba iqiniso lalilokhe lilabafakazi, kwezinye izikhathi kwakubonakala sengathi amanga ayezanqoba, njalo imfundiso yeqiniso itshabalaliswe emhlabeni. Ivangeli lalingasabonakali, kodwa indlela ezitshiyeneyo zokukhonza zanda emhlabeni, njalo abantu bathwaliswa nzima ngemithetho eyayincindezela. {GC 55.2}IEP 55.2

Kabafundiswanga kuphela ukuthi babone upapa njengommeli wabo, kodwa bafundiswa lokuthi bathembele emisebenzini yabo emihle njengenhlawulo yezono zabo. Ukuvakatshela ezindaweni ezikhatshana ezazibizwa ngokuthi zindawo ezingcwele, lokwenza izenzo ezinhle, lokukhozwa kwezithombe, lokwakhiwa kwamabandla, lamalathi, lokubhadala imali enengi ebandleni, zonke lezi izenzo lezinye ezifananayo zalethwa njengendlela yokujabulisa uNkulunkulu lokususa ulaka lwakhe, njalo kwenziwa sengathi uNkulunkulu ufana lomuntu, umane athukutheliswe yizinto ezingekho emthethweni wakhe, loba odinga izipho zabantu ukuze axole. {GC 55.3}IEP 55.3

Loba kwakunjalo ububi lendonsela yebandla kwaqhubeka kukhula, ngitsho lakubaphathi bebandla. Ekupheleni kweminyaka engamakhulu ayisitshiyangalombili uKrestu ezelwe (8th century), opapa baqala ukufundisa abantu ukuthi kusukela ekuqaleni kwebandla lesiKrestu babevele belamandla alingana lalawa abasebezinike wona. Ukuqinisa amazwi lawa kwakumele kubelendlela yokuwanika amandla, njalo icebo lalethwa ngokuphangisa livela kuyise wamanga. Imibhalo eyayilotshwe endulo yatshintshwa yenziwa yafakaza lawomanga. Imithetho okwakuthiwa yayibekwe emihlanganweni yasendulo eyayingazange yaziwe ngumuntu yavunjululwa, eyayiqinisa ukuthi upapa wayelamandla ookubusa umhlaba wonke kusukela endulo. Ngenxa yokuthi ibandla laselilahle njalo laphika iqiniso, lakwamukela ukukhohliswa lokhu njengeqiniso. {GC 56.1}IEP 56.1

Abantu abalutshwana ababesakhela phezu kweqiniso (1 Corinte 3:10) baqala ukuphiceka njalo baphelelwa nxa imfundiso zamanga zazivalela ukuhamba komsebenzi wabo. Njengabakhi bomduli waseJerusalema ngezinsuku zikaNehemiya, abanengi basebezimisele ukuthi: “Amandla abathwali asephelile, kanti izibi zisenengi, sesisehluleka ukwakha.” Nehemiya 4:10. Sebediniwe yikulwisana lokuhlukunyezwa, lobuqili, lesono, lakho konke uSathane ayekuletha phezu kwabo ngoba efuna ukuphambanisa ukuqhubeka komsebenzi wokuhambisa ivangeli, abanye ababengabakhi abathembekileyo baphela umoya, njalo ngokufuna ukuthula lokuvikela inotho kanye lempilo zabo, bafulathela insika yeqiniso. Abanye, ababengaphelanga uthando ngenxa yokuphikiswa yizitha zabo bakhuluma lawamazwi bathi: “Lingabesabi, khumbulani iNkosi enkulu leyesabekayo...” Nehemiya 4:14. Baqhubeka ngomsebenzi wabo, omunye lomunye elenkemba eceleni kwakhe. (Efesu 6:17). {GC 56.2}IEP 56.2

Umoya ofananayo wokuzonda lokuphikisa iqiniso, lokhe uthungamela izitha zikaNkulunkulu kusukela endulo. Ngalesosizatho ukuqaphela lokwethembeka okufananayo lokhe kudingeka encekwini zakhe lamuhla. Amazwi kaKrestu kubalandeli bakhe bakuqala alokhe efana lakubalandeli bakhe kuze kuyefika ekupheleni kwesikhathi: “Lokhu engikutsho kini, ngikutsho kubo bonke, ngithi: lindani.” (Marko 13:37). {GC 56.3}IEP 56.3

Ubunyama babubonakala sengathi babulokhe bukhula ngamandla. Ukukhonzwa kwezithombe kwanda kwaze kwabayinjwayelo. Amakhandlela ayetshiswa phambi kwezithombe, lemikhuleko yayisenziwa kizo. Wonke amasiko ayisinengiso ayesenziwa. Ingqondo zabantu zasezikhokhelwa ngamasiko okwabangela ukuthi kubonakale sengathi basebelahlekelwe ngamandla wokuzicabangela. Nxa abapristi lababhishopi basebezithandela impilo yokuzijabulisa lezinto zomhlaba, izimilo zabo seziyehle kakhulu, kwakusobala ukuthi abalandeli babo ababekhangelele kibo, babezafunyanwa sebecwila ekungazini njalo lasebubini. {GC 57.1}IEP 57.1

Elinye inyathelo lokuzibumbela, lathathwa ngomnyaka wamakhulu alitshumi lanye lapho uPapa uGregory Vll owahambisa khona ilizwi lokuthi ibandla laseRoma lalimsulwa njalo lalingelasici. Phakathi kwamazwi awakhulumayo, watsho futhi ukuthi ibandla leRoma aliphambanisi, njalo lalingeke futhi liphambanise, ngokoMbhalo. Kodwa kwakungekho ubufakazi balokhu ayekutsho eBhayibhilini. Wabuya wathi wayelawo amandla wokususa ababusi esikhundleni, njalo waphinda watsho ukuthi sasingekho isigwebo ayezasibeka esasizaphikiswa kumbe sethulwe ngababusi kodwa kwakusemandleni akhe ukutshintsha izinqumo zabanye. {GC 57.2}IEP 57.2

Isibonelo sesenzo sochuku esenziwa ngulowo owayesithi kenzi okubi lamaphutha sabonakala endleleni aphatha ngayo umongameli welizwe lamaJelimana (Germany) uHenry lV (wesine). Ngesinqumo sakhe sokuphikisa amandla kapapa, umongameli lowu wathola umbiko wokuthi wayesesusiwe esihlalweni njalo wakhitshwa lasebandleni. Ngenxa yokwesaba ukuthi wayezalahlwa, njalo langokwesaba ukuthi amalunga edale lephalamende ayesezamhlamukela ngemva kokuxwayiswa ngupapa ukuthi bayenze njalo, uHenry wakubona kufanele ukuthi ayekhumisana umlotha lomthungameli waseRoma. Wahamba lomkakhe lesisebenzi sakhe esithembekileyo, badabula izintaba ngesikhathi sebusika kugodola kakhulu, ezama ukuthi ayezehlisa phambi kwakhe. Ekufikeni kwakhe esigodlweni lapho uGregory ayesuka khona, wathathwa, yedwa wahlukaniswa lebutho lakhe, wamiswa phandle komuzi, phakathi komqando omkhulu, wakhitshwa izembatho, lezicathulo, wagqokiswa izigqoko eziyangisayo, walinda ukuthi upapa amnike imvumo yokuthi angene azombona. Wayekelwa phandle engadlanga ezilile njalo evuma izono zakhe okwamalanga amathathu, upapa wang’khona emxolela. Loba nje wayesemxolele upapa wamazisa ukuthi kwakumele amelele ukuthi aze amtshele ukuthi sengathatha isikhundla sakhe aqalise ukubusa futhi. UGregory waqala ukuzitshaya isifuba ngoba esithi wayelamandla wokuqeda ukuziphakamisa kwamakhosi. {GC 57.3}IEP 57.3

Khepha umehluko ongakanani phakathi kokuziphakamisa kukapapa lokuzehlisa njalo lokulunga kukaKrestu, oziveza njengalowo oma emnyango aqoqode, amelele ukungena enhliziyweni ukuba alethe ukuthethelelwa lokuthula, owafundisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi: “Lalowo othanda ukuba ngowokuqala phakathi kwenu kabe yinceku yenu.” Mathewu 20:27. {GC 58.1}IEP 58.1

Iminyaka eyalandelayo yabuya lemfundiso zamanga ezinengi ezangeniswa ebandleni zivela eRoma. Lasendulo kungakasungulwa isihlalo sabo papa, imfundiso zenkolo yezithixo zazifundiswa ezikolo njalo lokhu kwabangela ukuthi zitshiye umthelela omubi ebandleni. Inengi labantu ababesithi basebephendukile, baqhubeka bebambelele emfundisweni zabo zesihedeni, njalo abaqhubekanga bezifunda bona bodwa, kodwa bakhuthaza abanye ukuthi bazifunde labo ukwenzela ukuthi babelendonsela kubahedeni. Amaphutha amanengi angena enkolweni yesiKrestu ngale indlela. Eyinye imfundiso yamanga eyayihamba phambili ngeyokukholelwa ukuthi kukhona ukuphila ngemva kwethuna lokuthi abafileyo bayezwa. Imfundiso leyi yaba yinsika eyasetshenziswa libandla laseRoma ukuthi benze abantu bakholwe kwabafileyo okwakucatshangelwa ukuthi babebalelwa kwabangcwele njalo leyokukhonzwa kukaMaria. Yikho futhi lapha okwalethwa imfundiso yokuthi abafileyo abangalunganga bazatshiswa egehena inaphakade. {GC 58.2} IEP 58.2

Indlela yaseyivuliwe njalo eyabangela ukuthi balethe eyinye futhi imfundiso yamanga, ibandla leRoma elayibiza njengendawo yokutshiswa kwemiphefumulo yalabo ababi bengakayi ezulwini, bayisebenzisa imfundiso leyi ukwethusa abantu abanengi ababehlala belungele ukukholwa izinto ezingekhoyo. Bayichaza imfundiso leyi ngokuthi kwakukhona indawo yokutshiswa kwemiphefumulo yalabo abangafanelanga ukulahlwa okuphakade, okwakumele bajeziselwe izono zabo khona, njalo nxa sebehlanjululiwe ekungcoleni kwabo besebesamukelwa ezulwini. {GC 58.3}IEP 58.3

Kwadingeka njalo elinye iqhinga lamanga elalizayenza ukuthi upapa athole inzunzo ngokwesaba abasebekufake ebantwini. Baletha imfundiso yokuthengiswa kwentethelelo yesono. Bathembisa abantu ukuthi izono zazithethelelwa zonke, ezakudala, lezintsha, ngitsho lalezo ezazingakayenziwa, njalo lokukhululwa ebuhlungwini lasekujezisweni, kubo bonke ababexhasa upapa emsebenzini yakhe yokuqhelisa umbuso wakhe, lokujezisa izitha zakhe lokubulala bonke ababesala ukwamukela amandla akhe kwezenkolo. Abantu bafundiswa njalo ukuthi nxa benikela imali ebandleni babelakho ukuzikhulula esonweni, njalo benelise ukukhulula imphefumulo yezihlobo zabo esezafayo ezazisitsha emlilweni wegehena. Ngale indlela ibandla leRoma lathola umnotho omkhulu owenza ukuthi bayenelise ukuqhubeka ngempilo yabo yokuziphakamisa lokwenza okubi kodwa besithi bamele uMsindisi emhlabeni, yena owayephile impilo yokuzidela engelayo indawo yokufihla ikhanda emhlabeni. {GC 59.1}IEP 59.1

Inkonzo yesidlo etholakala eBhayibhilini yasuswa ebandleni, indawo yayo yathathwa yinkonzo yokunikela eyayilensika yayo ekukhonzweni kwezithombe. Abapristi ababengaphansi kapapa, benza ukuthi abantu bakholwe ukuthi babelawo amandla wokuguqula isinkwa sibe ngumzimba kaKrestu uqobo lwawo lenkezo ibeligazi likaJesu. (Cardinal Wiseman, The real Presence of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Eucharist, proved from scripture, lecture 8, sec 3, par 24.) Ngokuziphakamisa okukhulu, bazenza abantu ababelamandla wokudala uNkulunkulu, yena onguMdali wezinto zonke. AmaKrestu aphoqelelwa ngesjeziso sokufa ngendlela elochuku ukuthi amukele njalo akholwe limfundiso eyayimbi kangaka. Abantu abanengi abakhetha ukumelana lalemfundiso baphoselwa emalangabini babulawa. {GC 59.2}IEP 59.2

Ngemva kweminyaka ezinkulungwane ezilitshumi lantathu ezelwe uKrestu (13th century) kwalethwa isenzo esibi esedlula zonke ezaziqalwe ngupapa, yikho lapho okwabunjwa khona amaqembu embusweni webandla leRoma ayemiselwe ukutshabalalisa bonke ababefundisa imfundiso eyayiphikisana lebandla laseRoma. USathane wasebenzisa abathungameli bombuso wobupapa. Emihlanganweni esithakeleyo uSathane lengilosi zakhe, babethungamela ingqondo zabantu ababi, kodwa phakathi kwabo kwakulengilosi eyayingabonwa muntu eyayiloba phansi bonke ububi lemithetho eyayifakwa eyayilochuku olukhulu, njalo yayiloba imbali yezenzo ezimbi kakhulu ezazingeke zibonakale emehlweni abantu. “ Ibhabhiloni enkulu” “yayisidakiwe ngegazi labangcwele.” Igazi lezigidi zalabo ababebulawelwe ukholo lwabo lalibubula phambi kaNkulunkulu becela ukujeziswa kombuso lowu ohlamukileyo. {GC 59.3}IEP 59.3

Upapa wayesengumbusi ongalakuphikiswa njalo oncindezelayo owayesebusa umhlaba wonke. Amakhosi lababusi babekhothamela yonke imithetho kapapa. Ikusasa lomuntu wonke emhlabeni lasezulwini, laselibonakala sengathi laselingaphansi kwentando kapapa. Okwamakhulu eminyaka, imfundiso yeRoma yaseyamukelwe njalo yalandelwa ngumuntu wonke. Imikhuba yakhe yayisenziwa ngokuhlonipha, imikhosi yakhe ilandelwa ngabanengi. Abaphathi bebandla babehlonitshwa njalo benakekelwa kakhulu. Kusukela ngalesi isikhathi ibandla leRoma alikaze lithole ukuhlonitshwa, lamandla njalo lokuphakanyiswa okwedlula lokhu elakuthola ngalesi isikhathi. {GC 60.1}IEP 60.1

Kodwa “imini yombuso wobupapa yayi yibusuku bomhlaba wonke” — (J. A. Wylie, The History of Protestantism, b.1, ch 4.) Umbhalo oNgcwele wawungasazakali, hatshi ebantwini kuphela kodwa ngitsho lakubapristi. NjengabaFarisi basendulo, abathungameli bombuso wobupapa babezonda ukukhanya okwakudalelwe ukuveza izono zabo. Umlayo kaNkulunkulu, ongumgomo wokulunga, sebewususile, basebenzisa amandla abo bengasela mkhawulo, njalo benza ububi kungela okubavimbelayo. Ubugebenga, lobuqili, lobugovu lokudlaliswa komnotho kwanda elizweni. Abantu ebazange besabe ukwenza amacala lobubi ababengabenza ukuze bathole inotho lezikhundla. Izigodlo zabopapa labapristi zaba zindawo lapho ububi obesabekayo obabusenziwa khona. Abanye abathungameli bebandla benza amacala wokuhlamuka ayesabakayo kangaka abangela ukuthi abanye ababusi bomhlaba benze imizamo yokubakhipha ezikhundleni njenga bantu ababebabi kakhulu okwakungafanelanga ukuthi bamukelwe esigabeni. Okweminyaka eminengi indawo yaseEurope ayizange ithole intuthuko kwezemfundo, lezemisebenzi yezandla kanye lokuphumelela kwezempilo. Isikrestu sonke sagogeka kwezakoMoya lakwezengqondo. {GC 60.2}IEP 60.2

Isimo somhlaba ngaphansi kwamandla ebandla leRoma sagcwalisa ngendlela eyesabekayo amazwi omprofethi uHosiya athi: “Abantu bami bayabhubha, ngokuswela ukwazi, ngoba ukwalile ukwazi, lami ngizakwala, ungabi ngumpristi wami. Lokhu usuwukhohliwe umlayo kaNkulunkulu wakho, lami ngizakhohlwa abantwana bakho.” Hoseya 4:6. “Alikho iqiniso, lomusa lokumazi uNkulunkulu elizweni. Ngokufunga, lamanga, lokubulala, lokweba, lokufeba; baqhubeka ngokwenza okubi, legazi lithinta igazi.” Hoseya 4:1,2. Konke lokhu kwakungumphumela wokuphika ilizwi likaNkulunkulu. {GC 60.3}IEP 60.3