Kodi Khirisimasi Inayamba Bwanji?

KODI mumafuna mutadziwa zoona pa nkhani ya Khirisimasi mogwirizana ndi zimene Baibulo limanena? Ngati ndi choncho, mwina munadzifunsapo mafunso awa: (1) Kodi Yesu anabadwadi pa December 25? (2) Kodi “anzeru a kum’mawa” anali ndani kwenikweni, ndipo kodi analipodi atatu? (3) Kodi nyenyezi imene inawatsogolera kwa Yesu inatumizidwa ndi ndani? (4) Kodi pali mgwirizano uliwonse pakati pa Yesu ndi Father Christmas? (5) Kodi Mulungu amauona bwanji mwambo wopatsana mphatso pa nthawi ya Khirisimasi?

Tiyeni tiyankhe mafunso amenewa pogwiritsa ntchito zimene Baibulo komanso mabuku a mbiri yakale amanena.

(1) Kodi Yesu anabadwa pa December 25?

Zimene zimachitika: Anthu amakondwerera Khirisimasi pa December 25 poganiza kuti Yesu anabadwa pa tsiku limeneli. Buku lina limati: “Mawu akuti Khirisimasi amatanthauza ‘Misa ya Khristu,’ kapena kuti Misa yokondwerera kubadwa kwa Khristu.”—Encyclopedia of Religion.

Chiyambi chake: Buku linanso (The Christmas Encyclopedia) limati: “Tsiku la December 25 linakhazikitsidwa osati potengera zimene Baibulo limanena, koma potengera miyambo yachikunja ya Aroma imene inkachitika kumapeto kwa chaka,” pa tsiku limene dzuwa linkawala kwa maola ochepa kwambiri pa chaka chonse, kumpoto kwa dziko lapansi. Bukuli linanenanso kuti chimodzi mwa zikondwererozi chinali cha Saturnalia, chomwe chinkachitika polemekeza mulungu wa ulimi, Saturn. Panalinso “zikondwerero ziwiri zomwe zinkachitikira limodzi zolemekeza milungu iwiri ya dzuwa. Milunguyi inali Sol, mulungu wa Aroma, ndi Mithra, mulungu wa Aperisi.” Zikondwerero zonsezi zinkachitika pa December 25, pokumbukira kubadwa kwa milunguyi. Malinga ndi kalendala imene inakhazikitsidwa ndi Julius Caesar, limeneli ndi tsiku limene nyengo inkasintha ndipo dzuwa linkawala kwa maola ochepa kwambiri pa chaka chonse.

Zikondwerero zachikunja zimenezi zinayamba kuonedwa ngati zachikhristu m’chaka cha 350, pamene Papa Julius I ananena kuti December 25 likhale tsiku lokondwerera kubadwa kwa Khristu. Buku lija (Encyclopedia of Religion) linanenanso kuti “pang’ono ndi pang’ono, phwando lokondwerera kubadwa kwa Yesu linalowa m’malo mwa maphwando ena onse amene ankachitika pa tsiku limene dzuwa linkawala kwa maola ochepa kwambiri. Anthu anayamba kugwiritsira ntchito kwambiri zithunzi zokhala ndi dzuwa, poimira Khristu woukitsidwa (amene ankatchedwanso Dzuwa Losagonjetseka). M’malo mojambula dzuwa lozungulira . . . anayamba kujambula mzera wozungulira wowala, kuzungulira mutu wa oyera achikhristu.”

Zimene Baibulo limanena: Baibulo silimatchula tsiku limene Yesu anabadwa. Koma tikhoza kunena motsimikiza kuti Yesu sanabadwe pa December 25. Chifukwa chiyani? Baibulo limatiuza kuti pamene Yesu amabadwa, n’kuti abusa “akugonera ku busa.” Iwo ankayang’anira nkhosa zawo usiku kufupi ndi mzinda wa Betelehemu. (Luka 2:8) Nthawi zambiri nyengo yozizira komanso yamvula inkayamba mu October. Abusa, makamaka okhala m’madera okwera ozizira kwambiri, monga madera ozungulira mzinda wa Betelehemu, ankaonetsetsa kuti nkhosa zawo zili m’khola usiku. Kuzizira kunkafika pachimake mu December, moti nthawi zina kunkagwa chipale chofewa. *

 N’zochititsa chidwi kuti Akhristu oyambirira, omwe ambiri a iwo ankayenda limodzi ndi Yesu mu utumiki wake, sanakondwererepo kubadwa kwake. Iwo ankakumbukira imfa yake yokha, chifukwa n’zimene iye anawalamula. (Luka 22:17-20; 1 Akorinto 11:23-26) Komabe ena anganene kuti, ‘Kodi pali vuto lililonse kuti Khirisimasi inayambira kuchikunja?’ Yankho ndi lakuti Mulungu amaona kuti pali vuto chifukwa zimene zimachitika pa Khirisimasi sizigwirizana ndi choonadi. Yesu Khristu anati: “Olambira oona adzalambira Atate motsogoleredwa ndi mzimu ndi choonadi.”—Yohane 4:23.

(2) Kodi Anzeru a Kum’mawa Analipo Angati? Nanga Anali Ndani Kwenikweni?

Zimene zimachitika: Anthu amajambula zithunzi zosonyeza anzeru atatu ndiponso nyenyezi imene inawatsogolera kuchokera kum’mawa mpaka kukafika kwa Yesu. Zithunzizo zimasonyezanso anthuwo akupatsa Yesu mphatso m’malo odyetsera ziweto. Nthawi zina amajambulaponso abusa.

Chiyambi chake: Kupatulapo nkhani yachidule imene inalembedwa m’Baibulo, “zinthu zonse zimene zalembedwapo zokhudza Anzeru n’zongopeka.”—The Christmas Encyclopedia.

Zimene Baibulo limanena: Baibulo silimatchula kuti anthu amene anapita kukaona Yesu analipo angati. Mwina anali awiri, atatu, anayi kapena kuposerapo. Mabaibulo ena amatchula anthuwa kuti “anzeru,” koma mawu amene anali m’chinenero choyambirira chimene analembera Baibulo ndi akuti magoi. Mawuwa amatanthauza anthu okhulupirira nyenyezi kapena kuti amatsenga. Baibulo limanena kuti aliyense wochita zimenezi “ndi wonyansa kwa Yehova.” (Deuteronomo 18:10-12) Komanso chifukwa chakuti anthuwa anayenda ulendo wautali kuchokera Kum’mawa, sanapeze Yesu adakali khanda m’malo odyetsera ziweto. M’malomwake, mwina atayenda kwa miyezi ingapo, iwo ‘analowa m’nyumba’ mmene Yesu amakhala. M’nyumbamo iwo “anaona mwanayo ndi mayi ake Mariya.”—Mateyu 2:11.

(3) Kodi Nyenyezi Imene Inatsogolera Okhulupirira Nyenyeziwo Inatumizidwa ndi Ndani?

Kumene nyenyeziyi inatsogolera okhulupirira nyenyezi aja kungatithandize kudziwa kuti inatumizidwa ndi ndani. Poyamba nyenyeziyi sinawatsogolere ku Betelehemu, koma inawatsogolera ku Yerusalemu. Pamene anthuwo ankafufuza kumene Yesu anali, Mfumu Herode inamva. Kenako Herode “anaitanitsa mwamseri okhulupirira nyenyezi aja,” ndipo iwo anamuuza za “mfumu ya Ayuda” imene inali itangobadwa kumeneyo. Ndiyeno Herode anawauza kuti: “Pitani mukam’funefune mwanayo mosamala, ndipo mukakam’peza mudzandidziwitse.” Komatu sikuti Herode ankamufunira zabwino Yesu. Mfumu yonyada komanso yankhanza imeneyi inkafuna kupha Yesuyo.—Mateyu 2:1-8, 16.

N’zochititsa chidwi kuti kenako nyenyeziyo inatsogolera okhulupirira nyenyeziwo kum’mwera, ku Betelehemu. Itafika kumeneko “inakaima” pamwamba pa nyumba imene munali Yesu.—Mateyu 2:9, 10.

Apa zikuonekeratu kuti sinali nyenyezi wamba. Kodi n’zomveka kuti Mulungu, amene anagwiritsa ntchito angelo pouza abusa za kubadwa kwa Yesu, tsopano agwiritse ntchito nyenyezi potsogolera anthu achikunja okhulupirira nyenyezi kwa mdani wa Yesu, kenako n’kuwatsogoleranso kwa Yesuyo? Ayenera kuti Satana ndiye anatumiza nyenyeziyo n’zolinga zoipa. Baibulo limasonyeza kuti iye amatha kuchita zinthu zodabwitsa. (2 Atesalonika 2:9, 10) Moti anthu akanadziwa kuti nyenyeziyi inatumidwa ndi Satana, si bwenzi akumaika nyenyezi yokongoletsera pamwamba pa mtengo umene amaugwiritsa ntchito pa Khirisimasi.

(4) Kodi Pali Mgwirizano Uliwonse Pakati pa Yesu ndi Father Christmas?

Zimene zimachitika: M’mayiko ambiri ana amalembera makalata Father Christmas omupempha mphatso, ndipo anthu amati ndondocha zimamuthandiza kukonza mphatso zimenezi kulikulu lake, lomwe lili kumpoto kwenikweni kwa dziko lapansi. Anthu ambiri m’mayiko amenewa amati Father Christmas ndi amene amabweretsera ana mphatso.

Chiyambi chake: Malinga ndi zimene anthu ambiri amanena, nkhani ya Father Christmas, (amene m’mayiko ena amatchedwa Santa Claus), inachokera pa Saint Nicholas, bishopu wamkulu wa ku Myra ku Asia Minor, kumene tsopano ndi ku Turkey. Buku lina (The Christmas Encyclopedia) linati: “Pafupifupi zonse zimene zalembedwapo zokhudza St. Nicholas n’zongopeka.” N’kutheka kuti dzina lakuti “Santa Claus” linachokera ku mawu akuti Sinterklaas, komwe ndi katchulidwe kolakwika kwa dzina la “Saint Nicholas” m’Chidatchi. Choncho, malinga ndi mabuku a mbiri yakale komanso Baibulo, palibe kugwirizana kulikonse pakati pa Father Christmas ndi Yesu Khristu.

Zimene Baibulo limanena: “Popeza tsopano mwataya chinyengo, aliyense wa inu alankhule zoona  kwa mnzake.” Ndipo anthu a m’banja lathu ndiwo anzathu apamtima kwambiri amene sitiyenera kuwauza zachinyengo. (Aefeso 4:25) Baibulo limanenanso kuti ‘tizikonda choonadi,’ ndiponso ‘tizilankhula zoona mumtima mwathu.’ (Zekariya 8:19; Salimo 15:2) Kuuza ana kuti Father Christmas ndi amene wawabweretsera mphatso pa Khirisimasi kungaoneke ngati nthabwala chabe. Koma kodi ndi chinthu chabwino komanso chanzeru kunamiza ana, ngakhale titakhala ndi zifukwa zomveka? Kodi inuyo simukuona kuti n’zolakwika kuti nthawi imene anthu amati ndi yolemekeza Yesu, imakhalanso nthawi yonamiza ana?

(5) Kodi Mulungu Amaona Bwanji Kupatsana Mphatso ndi Zisangalalo za pa Khirisimasi?

Zimene zimachitika: Kupatsana mphatso kumene kumachitika pa Khirisimasi n’kodabwitsa chifukwa anthu amakhala ngati akusinthana mphatsozo. Ndiponso nyengo ya Khirisimasi imakhala nthawi yochita maphwando. Anthu amadya ndiponso kumwa kwambiri.

Chiyambi chake: Chikondwerero cha Aroma cha Saturnalia chinkayamba pa December 17 ndipo chinkatha pa December 24. Pa tsiku limeneli anthu ankapatsana mphatso. M’manyumba ndiponso m’misewu munkamveka phokoso lokhalokha chifukwa cha maphwando, kuledzera ndi zipolowe. Chikondwererochi chikatha, ankakondwereranso chaka chatsopano pa January 1. Nthawi zambiri chikondwererochi chinkachitika masiku atatu. N’kutheka kuti chikondwerero cha Saturnalia ndi cha chaka chatsopano zinkalumikizana n’kukhala ngati chikondwerero chimodzi.

Zimene Baibulo limanena: Olambira oona amadziwika kuti ndi anthu achimwemwe komanso owolowa manja. Baibulo limati: “Inu olungama, kondwerani . . . ndipo sangalalani.” (Salimo 32:11) Nthawi zambiri anthu amasangalala chonchi chifukwa chakuti ndi owolowa manja. (Miyambo 11:25) Yesu Khristu anati: “Kupatsa kumabweretsa chimwemwe chochuluka kuposa kulandira.” (Machitidwe 20:35) Ananenanso kuti: “Khalani opatsa,” kapena kuti muzidziwika kuti ndinu opatsa.—Luka 6:38.

Kupatsa koteroko sikukhala kwamwambo kapena kokakamizika chifukwa chakuti aliyense akuchita zomwezo. Baibulo limatiuza mtima umene tiyenera kukhala nawo popereka mphatso. Limati: “Aliyense achite mogwirizana ndi mmene watsimikizira mumtima mwake, osati monyinyirika kapena mokakamizika, chifukwa Mulungu amakonda munthu wopereka mokondwera.” (2 Akorinto 9:7) Anthu amene amatsatira malangizo abwino kwambiri a m’Baibulo amenewa amapatsa anzawo zinthu chifukwa cha  kuwolowa manja ndiponso chifukwa chakuti akufuna kutero mumtima mwawo, ndipo amatha kupereka mphatso pa nthawi ina iliyonse pa chaka. Kupereka kotereku Mulungu amasangalala nako, ndipo sikukhala kolemetsa.

Khirisimasi Ndi Chikondwerero Chachikunja

Tikatengera zimene Baibulo limanena, timaona kuti pafupifupi zinthu zonse zimene zimachitika pa Khirisimasi n’zochokera kuchikunja, kapena zinayambika chifukwa cha kusamvetsa bwino nkhani za m’Baibulo. Choncho zinthu zimene zimachitika pa Khirisimasi si zachikhristu. Koma kodi zinatani kuti ziyambe kuonedwa ngati zachikhristu? Mogwirizana ndi zimene Baibulo linalosera, patapita zaka zambiri Khristu atafa panabwera aphunzitsi onyenga. (2 Timoteyo 4:3, 4) M’malo mophunzitsa choonadi, aphunzitsi onyengawa ankaphunzitsa mabodza n’cholinga choti Chikhristu chikhale chokopa kwa anthu achikunja. Choncho pang’ono ndi pang’ono, iwo anayamba kutengera zikondwerero zimene anthu achikunja ankachita n’kumati ndi zachikhristu.

Baibulo linachenjezeratu za “aphunzitsi onyenga” ndipo linati iwo “adzakudyerani masuku pamutu ndi mawu achinyengo. Koma chiweruzo chawo chimene chinagamulidwa kalekale chikubwera mofulumira, ndipo chiwonongeko chawo sichikuzengereza.” (2 Petulo 2:1-3) Mboni za Yehova siziona mopepuka mawu amenewa, monganso momwe zimachitira ndi Baibulo lonse lathunthu. Iwo amaona kuti Baibulo ndi Mawu a Mulungu. (2 Timoteyo 3:16) Choncho sachita nawo miyambo kapena zikondwerero zachinyengo zachipembedzo. Kodi zimenezi zimawachititsa kuti akhale anthu osasangalala? Ayi. M’malomwake, kudziwa choonadi cha m’Baibulo kunawamasula, monga momwe tionere.

[Mawu a M’munsi]

[Bokosi/Chithunzi patsamba 8]

AKUKOLOLA ZIMENE ANAFESA

Buku lina linati pa nthawi ina, atsogoleri a zipembedzo “ankaletsa ndi mphamvu zawo zonse chilichonse chachikunja.” (Christmas Customs and Traditions—Their History and Significance) Koma m’kupita kwa nthawi, atsogoleriwa ankangofuna kuti matchalitchi awo azidzaza ndi anthu, ndipo analibe nazo ntchito zophunzitsa choonadi. Choncho anayamba kulekerera anthu amene ankatsatira zinthu zachikunja. Patapita nthawi atsogoleriwo anayamba kuphunzitsa zinthuzo ngati zachikhristu.

Koma Baibulo limati: “Chilichonse chimene munthu wafesa, adzakololanso chomwecho.” (Agalatiya 6:7) Atsogoleri a chipembedzowa anafesa ziphunzitso zachikunja. Choncho sayenera kudabwa poona kuti akukololanso zinthu zachikunja. Mwachitsanzo, pa chikondwerero cha Khirisimasi, chimene amati amakumbukira kubadwa kwa Yesu, anthu amaledzera ndiponso amachita zinthu zachisokonezo. Anthu amakonda kupita kumasitolo kukagula zinthu m’malo mopita kutchalitchi. Mabanja ambiri amatenga ngongole kuti akwanitse kugula mphatso, kenako n’kumavutika kuzibweza. Ana amauzidwa zinthu zabodza n’kumaganiza kuti Father Christmas ndi Yesu Khristu. Ndiyetu m’pomveka kuti Mulungu anachenjeza kuti: “Musakhudze chinthu chodetsedwa.”—2 Akorinto 6:17.

[Zithunzi patsamba 7]

Mofanana ndi mmene zinkakhalira pa chikondwerero cha Saturnalia, pa nyengo ya Khirisimasi anthu amakhalira kuchita maphwando. Anthu amadya ndiponso kumwa kwambiri

[Mawu a Chithunzi]

© Mary Evans Picture Library