1. Muthinto xeeni wa atthu Yehova onaaphavela awe, ni nthowa xeeni atthu awo anitthuneya aya okhala ooweha-weha mmukhalelo womunepani?

YESU aahimmye so: ‘Onophiya okathi . . . onìraya alipa-òkokhorela èkekhai yakokhoreleke Atithi yettihiwaka ni munepa y’ekekhai. Atithi annaphavela atthu antthuna wakokhorela siso’. (Yohani 4:23) Okathi Yehova onaaphwanya awe ale aniphavela omukokhorela ni munepa ni ekeekhai, onniwiiriha omwaattamela owo ni omwaattamela Mwanawe. (Yohani 6:44) Tthiri omwaattamela Muluku ni mwanawe, eri eparakha yuulupale! Ale aniiwelela ekeekhai ya mBiibiliyani, ahaana ‘ophavelaka othanla itthu sinasivela Apwiya’, okhala wira Satana nawoothe muulupale.​—aÉfeso 5:10; Wisupulula 12:9.

2. Mutthokiherye moota Yehova oniwoonela awe ale anitakaaha okokhorela wekeekhai ni weethiru.

² Nkahaya muthokorerye etthu yiiranen’ye waattamela oMwaako Sinayi, okathi anaIsarayeli yanvekenle aya Aroni wira ompake muluku. Aroni aahaakhulela, ni khimpaka mwaanyompe eeweero ni khuhimya wira mwaanyompe ole aamuthoonyerya Yehova. Nto Aroni aahaaleela anaIsarayeli oriki: ‘Melo nookhala nirá no watthapela Apwiya!’ Niireke yowiiraneya ele yaahimusivela Yehova? Nnaari. Yehova aahiwiiva atthu oophiyeryaka ikonto tthaaru yaakokhorenle elatarato ele. (Okhuma 32:1-6, 10, 28) Yowiiraneya ela enniixuttiha exeeni? Naaphavelaka okhala moophentani mwa Muluku, nihaana omukokhorela Yehova paahi ni osyaka ‘ovara itthu sa mwikho’.​—Yesaya 52:11; Ezekiyeli 44:23; aGalasia 5:9.

3, 4. Voohimya sa soolema ni mahiku anuupuwelela mulaponi, nthowa xeeni vanitthuneya ahu ovaha ephoole yinceene ele Biibiliya enihimya awe mmyaha iyo?

 ³ Mooriipiha murima, nuumala okhwa arummwa yaawo yiimananiha okhoottiherya okela mmulokoni munepa woomwareya, ale yiihimya okhala maKristau ni yahaaphenta ekeekhai, yaahipacerya otthara soolema, mahiku oowuupuwelela, ni iferiyatu sa epakau, seiyo yaahimya aya okhala sa eKristau. (2 aTesalonika 2:7, 10) Vaavo vanithokorerya anyu mahiku awo anuupuweleliwa, nwehe moota anooniherya aya munepa wa mulaponi, ohiya munepa wa Muluku. Okhala wene, mahiku otheene anuupuweleliwa mulaponi anitumererya soophavela sa erutthu, ni sookupali sa etiini yoowoka ni onamminepani, seiyo siri ekanyeryo yuulupale ya ‘Babilonia Mulupale’. * (Wisupulula 18:2-4, 23) Muupuweleke-tho wira Yehova aanisuwela oratteene wira soolema iyo saakhuma etiini ya epagau. Moohaaniherya, itthu iya sinnimunanara vanceene Yehova. Nto, ti vootthuneya otthara muupuwelo wa Yehova mmwaha ola.​—2 Yohani 6, 7.

⁴ Okhala wira hiyo na maKristau ekeekhai, ninnisuwela wira aakhala mahiku anuupuweleliwa ahinimusivela Yehova. Nto, nohaana okhootta moomalela wiirela mpantta mahiku awo. Oweha-tho nthowa naya Yehova vahinimusivela aya wuupuwelela mahiku awo, onoonikhaliherya osyaka sowiira saarowa onoceeliha okhala moophentani mwa Muluku.

5. Exeeni ennikupaliha wira Yesu khaayariwe 25 a Dezembro?

⁵ Biibiliya khonihimya wira nuupuweleliweke nihiku oyariwe awe Yesu Kristu. Nave-tho, nihiku oyariwe awe khinsuweliwe. Ekeekhai wira owo khaayariwe nihiku na 25 mweeri wa Dezembro, mwiita. * Tthiri, Luka olempe wira okathi Yesu aayariwe  awe “ekuluttu yeyo yahikhala amakampusi yaviriha ohiyu mmathalani [vathiru-vene]”, erupelelaka inama saya. (Luka 2:8-11) Vaakhanle wira yaari yoolema aya atthu ale orupa ‘mmathalani vathiru-vene’, Biibiliya khaarowa ottittimiheryaka wira amakampusi yaarumpe mmathalani aahiiso vathiru-vene. Mwaha woowi oBethelehemu, eyiita ennirupa epula yinceene, ni vanniriirya vanceene, nto inyompe sinikhala munikholani, nave-tho, amakampusi ale, khiyaarowa orupaka “mmathalani”. Nwehe-tho wira, Yosefe ni Maria yaahirowa oBethelehemu wira yarepeliwe ntoko Seesari Augusto aahimmye awe. (Luka 2:1-7) Waaniheryasa, Seesari khaarowa waaruma atthu, yaale yaahaasiveliwa ni olamulela wa oRoma, wira yarepeliwe khuta mutthu muttetthe oyariwe awe, okathi wa eyiita.

6, 7. (a) Sikhumme woowi soolema sinceene sa Natali? (b) Vanivirikana sai ovhana wa maKristau ni moota atthu a mulaponi anivahana aya?

⁶ Maphattuwelo a Natali khanikhuma mBiibiliyani, masi anikhuma mu soolema sa khalai sa epakau, ntoko niira nuupuweleliwa oRoma niihaniwa Saturnalia, nenno aatthapeliwa Saturno, eyo piiyo, muluku a oruwerya. Moovarihana ni osuwela waya, anamakokhorela a muluku Mitra yaanitthapela nihiku 25 na Dezembro ehimyaka wira nri nihiku na “oyariwa wa nsuwa nihinxintteya”, ntoko sinihimya aya New Catholic Encyclopedia (Nova Enciclopédia Católica). Nave-tho, eliivuru eyo enihimya wira “Natali opacenrye okathi yoole okokhorela nsuwa wuulanne aya oRoma”, sivinre ene iseekulu tthaaru nuumala okhwa Kristu.

⁷ Okathi yoole yuupuwelela aya nihiku nne, mapakau yaanivahana soolya, yoolema yeeyo olelo-va eniiriwa okathi wa Natali. Moota atthu anivahana aya itthu olelo-va, onoolikana ni yoole wiiriwa oRoma khalai, yoowo ohinivarihana ni masu ari mu 2 aKorinto 9:7, ani: “Vano, khula mutthu avaheke attharihaka murim’awe, khahiyó ni murima omuripalene, nnákhala mwaha w’okhanyereriwa: tthiri Muluku onsiveliwa n’ule onvaha murima omuttenlene”. Ophenta toniwiiriha maKristau ovaha, awo kharina muupuwelo woowi nookhala nihiku noothanliwa ninreerela ovahana itthu, nave-tho, khanlipelela ottikiheriwa  etthu. (Luka 14:12-14; musome Miteko 20:35.) Nave-tho, annixukhurela vanceene mwaha woowi khanixankiheya aphavelaka musurukhu woomwiirana Natali, wala okopha wira apake efesta okathi owo.—Matheyo 11:28-30; Yohani 8:32.

8. Niireke alipa-oosoma itheneeri yaahinvaha itthu Yesu nihiku aayariwe awe? Mutthokiherye.

⁸ Masi akina pooti okoha so: niireke alipa-oosoma itheneeri khiyanvanhe itthu Yesu nihiku aayariwe awe? Nnaari. Khalai, atthu yaaninvaha etthu mutthu ootthuneya aphavelaka wooniherya wira yaanimuttittimiha. (1 Mamwene 10:1, 2, 10, 13; Matheyo 2:2, 11) Nave-tho, anamasoma itheneeri ale khiyaarwiiye ohiyu yoole Yesu aayariwe awe. Okathi waaphiyale aya khiyamphwanye Yesu oyariwe ene niinano hata aataleliwe ene munikulani, masi yamphwannye ovirinhe ene myeeri sinceene ni okhalaka vatthokoni.

9. Okathi waatthapeliwa mahiku ooyariwa anihimmwa mBiibiliyani, exeeni yiiranen’ye?

⁹ Nnaamwi nihiku nniyariwa mwaana nryeene noohakalaliha, Biibiliya khonihimya wira arumeyi a Muluku yaanuupuwelela. (Esalimo 127:3) Niireke atthu awo yanvonya vaavo yahuupuwelela aya nihiku ayariwa aya? Nnaari. Biibiliya onihimya ifesta piili paahi sa otthapela nihiku nooyariwa, eyo piiyo, efesta ya Farawo a wEjiitu ni Herodi Antipa. (Musome Maphattuwelo 40:20-22, NM; Marko 6:21-29.) Masi itthu siiranen’ye mahiku ale saari sootakhala, vanceenexa nihiku na Herodi, nenne Yohani Mbatiza, aikitthiwe awe muru.

10, 11. MaKristau oopacerya yoonela sai wuupuwelela nihiku niyariwe aya, ni nthowa xeeni?

¹⁰ Eliivuru eniitthaniwa The World Book Encyclopedia, enihimya  so: “MaKristau a eseekulu yoopacerya khiyiirela mpantta mwaha woowi yaanisuwela wira wuupuwelela nihiku mutthu oyariwe awe, yoolema ya epagau”. Mwa ntakiheryo, khalai aGriki yaanikupali wira khuta mutthu ookhalana munepa waamukhaliherya nihiku aayariwa awe, ni waamukhapelela mutthu ole okumi awe wotheene. Eliivuru The Lore of Birthdays (eliivuru enilavula sa wuupuwelela nihiku na oyariwa), enihimya wira munepa owo “waanivarihana mootikiniha ni muluku a wuupuwelela nihiku nooyariwa mutthu”. Okhuma khalai, wuupuwelela nihiku nooyariwa onnivarihana ni waaxerya ehako sirumeeliwaka itheneeri moophavela osuwela itthu sinrowa omwiiraneela mutthu owo muhoolo.

¹¹ Arumeyi ala a Muluku khahiyo yaasyaka wuupuwelela mahiku ooyariwa nthowa na okhala eepakau ni sowiira sa onamminepani paahi, masi-tho, mwaha woowi yaaphavela weettela malamulo a Muluku. Mwaha wa xeeni? Awo yaari atthu oowiiyeviha, ni khayaixoona okhalexa afaitaxa wira nuupuweleliweke nihiku niyariwe aya. * (Mikeya 6:8; Luka 9:48) Ohiya vo, yanvuwiha Yehova ni omuxukhurela okhala wira ohaavaha okumi. *​—Esalimo 8:4, 5; 36:10; Wisupulula 4:11.

12. Moota xeeni nihiku na okhwa wahu nryaaya noolokexa ovikana nihiku nniyariwa ahu?

¹² Atthu otheene oororomeleya, okathi anikhwa aya, annisukiwa mmuupuweleloni mwa Yehova, nto muhoolo mwaya anootthikela okhalana okumi. (Yobi 14:14, 15) Eliivuru ya Musuweli 7:1, enihimya so: “Nsina nottittimiheya ti norera ovikana exero yowunkhelexa: nihiku n’okhwa ti norera ovikana nihiku n’oyariwa”. Nuulumo noowi “nsina”, nintaphulela ottittimiheya wa mutthu ohoolo wa Muluku ni muteko woororomeleya  oninvarela ahu. MaKristau arummwale wira yuupuweleleke paahi okhwa wa Yesu, yoowo “nsina” nawe noolokexa, nri nootthuneya wira hiyo noopowe.​—Luka 22:17-20; aHéberi 1:3, 4.

13, 14. Soolema sa Paasikha sikhumme woowi?

¹³ Nnaamwi Paasikha ohimmwaka wira onuupuweleliwa ohihimuwa wa Kristu, owo oniphattuwa etiini yoowoka. Nsina noowi Easter (nuulumo nintaphulela Paasikha ilapo sa ankelesi), ninlikanyihiwa ni Eostre aahiiso Ostara, muluku mwaamuthiyana a okathi wa ephovo ni okhuma wa nsuwa, wInglaterra khalai. Moota xeeni mooce ni anamarokolo apacenrye aya orumeeliwa okathi wa Paasikha? Encyclopædia Britannica enihimya wira, mooce anithoonyerya “okumi musya, ni ohihimuwa”, nave-tho namarokolo ethoonyeryo ya oyara. Nnaamwi vahimmwaka wira Paasikha onuupuweleliwa ohihimuwa wa Kristu, nto eyo khahiyo ekeekhai, ti yoolema ya khalai ya omukokhorela muluku a oyara. *

¹⁴ Niireke Yehova aamweemererya wira ohihimuwa wa Mwanawe wuupuweleliweke ni niira noothanyeya ntoko nne na omukokhorela muluku a oyara? Nnakhala vakhaani! (2 aKorinto 6:17, 18) Tthiri, Biibiliya khonihimya nnakhala khonaaruma maKristau wira yuupuweleleke ohihimuwa wa Yesu. Wuupuwelela ohihimuwa wa Yesu Kristu, nto khiyiitthana okhala Paasikha ori ohiroromeleya.

15. Yoolema ya Halloween ekhumme woowi, ni woonasa wene exeeni yiiraneya nihiku nne?

¹⁵ Halloween aahiiso Nihiku na Masanto Otheene, noosuweliwa mwaha wa itthu sookhwiri ni sootakhala siniiraneya. Niira nna nipacenrye ni maSelta yaakhala elapo ya oBretanha  ni Irlanda. Okathi mweeri onisareya aya waattamela nihiku 1 na Novembro, atthu awo yuupuwelela efesta ya Samhain, nuulumo nenno nintaphulela “Wanikisa wa Elimwe”. Yaakupali wira okathi wa Samhain, mukano waavalaanya apinaatamu ni minepa waanikumihiwa, nto minepa sooloka ni sootakhala saaneetta valaponi. Atthu awo yaakupali wira alipa-ookhwa yaanitthikela mmawannyeya, nto amusi aya yaahaana waahiyerya soolya ni soowurya moophavela waamaaliha, ni wira alipa-ookhwa awo ehiwiirihe sootakhala. Olelo-va, ilapo iyo, anamwane annaawara amaaskara ntoko nakuru aahiiso nookhwiri, khiyarowa empa ni empa awoopopihaka atthu, ni ehimyaka wira yaahivahiwe etthu animwaalowa. Nto moohisuwela anamwane awo aniirela mpantta niira na Samhain.

16, 17. (a) Xeeni maKristau aniphavela othelana vanreerela aya orumeela malakiheryo a Biibiliya wira atokose soolema sinipakiwa nihiku na ekasamento muttetthe onikhala aya? (b) Voohimya sa soolema ntoko oyiiherya musulu musoro aahiiso musurukhu, exeeni muKristau onireerela awe othokorerya?

¹⁶ Mowaakuveya, “mwa nyuwo [Babilonia Muulupale] khaninrowa-tho wìwiwa nsu na mutheli nnákhla nsu na mulipa-òtheliwa”. (Wisupulula 18:23) Nthowa xeeni? Mwaha wa sowiira sawe sa onamminepani seiyo siniwerya ohonona nihiku na ekasamento.​—Marko 10:6-9.

¹⁷ Soolema sinnivirikana khuta elapo. Soolema sikina seiyo sinikhala ntoko ti soohitthekeya, pooti wira siphattunwe oBabilonia, nto sinikupaliwa wira sinnaaphwanyiha eparakha ale anithelana aahiiso atthu alattuliwe. (Yesaya 65:11) Yoolema ekina, enihela muhina oyiiherya musulu musoro aahiiso musurukhu. Soolema iyo sinipakiwa mwaha woowi atthu anikupali wira yoolya ennimaaliha minepa sootakhala, ni wira sihaakumiherye maxakha ale anithelana. Nto, moovarihana ni sookupali saya, musoro ontaphulela oruwerya, ohakalala, ni okhala mahiku manceene. Mwekeekhai, otheene yoole oniphavela okhala moophentani mwa Muluku, ohaana othanya vanceene soolema iya soohiloka.​—Mmusome 2 aKorinto 6:14-18.

18. Malakiheryo xeeni a Biibiliya aniwerya waakhaliherya ale animpaka palano a efesta ya ekasamento, ni ale anrowa olattuliwa?

 ¹⁸ Arumeyi a Yehova, annisyaka sowiira sa mulaponi saarowa ohonona nihiku na ekasamento aya, aahiiso saarowa waakhumuliha atthu akina. Mwa ntakiheryo, annisyaka olavula moolumo ooruwana, wala olavula myaha sa enoka mmukhalelo woohiloka, aahiiso itthu saarowa owuulihiha muru ale animala othelana, wala atthu akina. (Miruku 26:18, 19; Luka 6:31; 10:27) Nave-tho, annisyaka opaka efesta ya ekasamento yuulupale moophavela paahi wooniherya ‘mihakhu sirinaya’. (1 Yohani 2:16) Akhala wira munimpaka palano a efesta ya ekasamento anyu, muhiliyale wira Yehova oniphavela wira nihiku nno niwiirihekeni wuupuwela itthu sooreera ohiya soothananiha. *

19, 20. Exeeni enihimya aya eliivuru emosa ya mulaponi voohimya sa omaniha ikoopho okathi atthu aniwurya aya, nto nthowa xeeni yoolema ela ehinivarihana aya ni maKristau?

¹⁹ Yoolema emosa enipakiwa okathi wa ifesta sa ekasamento, aahiiso ifesta sikina, ori omaniha ikoopho. Eliivuru emosa ya 1995, International Handbook on Alcohol and Culture (eliivuru emosa enilavula sa soowurya soohapala ni makhalelo a atthu molumwenkuni) enihimya so: “Omaniha ikoopho . . . waaniheryasa, yaari yoolema ya khalai, yeeyo atthu yaayiiherya aya vathi ephome aahiiso eviinyu yaavahaka mukuttho amuluku . . . aphavelaka wira evahiwe etthu, ni yaanivekela alavulaka masu ala: ‘mukhalane okumi munceene, aahiiso mukhalane ekumi!’”

²⁰ Ekeekhai wira atthu anceene, pooti ahisuwenle wira omaniha ikoopho okathi aniwurya aya, onnivarihana ni etiini aahiiso woova ethiru. Nave-tho, yoolema ela ya ottukhulela musulu ikoopho sa eviinyu, pooti othokoreriwaka ntoko ovekela ikuru sa “wiirimu”, seiyo siri suulupale ovikana iye sa opinaatamu wira  sivahe mareeliho; masi soolema iya khasinivarihana ni Biibiliya.—Yohani 14:6; 16:23. *

21. Nnaamwi niira nimosa nihikhanle na etiini, mithinto xeeni sa ifesta maKristau anitthuneya aya osyaka, ni nthowa xeeni?

²¹ Sooniheryaka ohononeya wa mweettelo mulaponi, yoowo ikwaha sinceene onitumereriwa ni Babilonia Muulupale, ilapo sikina sinnipaka ifesta sa karnaval, seiyo atthu aniina aya awanreene voohiloka ni ikwaha sikina anitumererya aya orupihana alopwanaru wala athiyanaru. Niireke vaamureerela mutthu ‘onimphenta’ Yehova wiirela mpantta aahiiso orowa oweha ifesta moota owo? Niireke opaka eyo yaamooniherya wira mutthu owo onninyokha itthu soonanara? (Esalimo 1:1, 2; 97:10) Ti vooloka omutakiha nasaalimo yoowo aavekenle so: “Muhuluxe maitho aka, wira kihòneké ithiru”!​—Esalimo 119:37.

22. Okathi xeeni muKristau onireerela awe othanla akhala wira onimwiirela mpantta niira aahiiso nnaari?

²² Mahiku anipakiwa ifesta sa mulaponi, muKristau ohaana ovaha ephoole wira mweettelo awe ohiwiirihe atthu akina wuupuwelaka wira onniirela mpantta ifesta iyo. Paulo olempe so: “Tivo, mwalyaka walá mwawuryaka, nnákhala mwiraka etthu p’itthu, mwireke sothene vonvuwiha Muluku”. (1 aKorinto 10:31; nwehe ekaaxa eri eni: “ Opaka Soothanla Mwa Miruku.”) Masi, akhala wira yoolema wala niira nimosa nnuupuweleliwa, khanniirela mpantta etiini yoowootha, aahiiso khannivarihana ni epoliitika wala mahiku anuupuweleliwa mulaponi, ni khinintthekela malamulo a mBiibiliyani, nto muKristau ohaana oweha akhala wira onimwiirela mpantta aahiiso nnaari. Nave-tho muKristau owo, ohaana owuupuwela-tho atthu akina wira ohaakhumulihe.

23, 24. Naatthokiheryeke sai atthu akina malamulo a xariya a Yehova?

²³ Atthu anceene annithokorerya mahiku anuupuweleliwa mulaponi, okhala okathi wooloka othukumana ni amusi ni apatthani  aya. Nto, akhala wira mutthu onihimya wira malamulo aneettela ahu toorika ni khanooniherya ophenta, mooreerela murima hiyo nohaana omutthokiherya wira Anamoona a Yehova anniirela mpantta ni amusi aya ni apatthani, ifesta seiye sihinitthekela malamulo a Biibiliya. (Miruku 11:25; Musuweli 3:12, 13; 2 aKorinto 9:7) Hiyo, ninnisiveliwa othukumana ni amusi ni apatthani, mahiku makina vamwaakhani. Masi, mwaha woowi ninnimphenta Muluku ni ninniiwelela sooruma sawe sa xariya, hiyo khanniphavela onanariha okathi owo woohakalala ni soolema sininveeha.—Nwehe ekaaxa eri eni: “ Okokhorela Wekeekhai Onnihakalaliha Vanceene.”

²⁴ Anamoona akina annikhumela saana vaavo anaatthokiherya aya oratteene apatthani aya, iponto seiye siri muliivuruni Biibiliya Oniixuttiha Exeeni Tthiri?, * muru 16. Nuupuweleke wira yoophavela ahu ori waakhaliherya atthu wira yiixutte ekeekhai, ohiya owooniherya wira aavonya. Mutthokiheryeke myaha iyo mwa nttittimiho, moomaaleleya, ni “molumo anyu ekhaleke òrera ni owèleliwa ni makha”.​—aKolosi 4:6.

25, 26. Anamuyari anrowa waakhaliherya sai anaaya wira yinnuweke amwaaminiki ni omphenta Yehova?

²⁵ Okhala wira hiyo na arumeyi a Yehova, nri atthu oowiixuttihiwa oratteene. Ninnisuwela nthowa naya nneemererya ahu itthu sikina, masi khiyanyokha sikina. (aHéberi 5:14) Nto nyuwo anamuyari, nwiixuttiheke aniinyu osuwela otthokiherya malamulo a Biibiliya. Opaka eyo, munoolipiha nroromelo na aniinyu, ni munimwaakhaliherya wira aweryeke owaakhula ale anaakoha voohimya sa sookupali saya, ni anoosuwela wira Yehova onnaaphenta.​—Yesaya 48:17, 18; 1 Pedru 3:15.

²⁶ Otheene yaale animukokhorela Muluku ‘munepa, n’ikekhai’, khahiyo paahi anisyaka ifesta soohiloka, masi-tho anniilipiha wira akhaleke oororomeleya mwa itthu sotheene. Atthu anceene anuupuwela wira okhala oororomeleya khomphureleya etthu olelo-va. Masi, ntoko ninrowa ahu oweha muru onittharelana, okathi wotheene iphiro sa Muluku ti soolokexa.