Báfuna Indlela Enyinyekile

EMINYAKENI engaba ngu-550 edlule, amaqembu amancane abantu ababethi bangamaKristu ayehlala ePrague, eChelčice, eVilémov, eKlatovy nakwamanye amadolobha asendaweni manje eyiCzech Republic ashiya imizi yawo. Akha eduze kwedolobha laseKunwald, esigodini esisenyakatho-mpumalanga yeBohemia, lapho akha khona izindlwana, alima, afunda amaBhayibheli awo, ase esungula inhlangano ayibiza ngokuthi UBumbano Lwabazalwane, noma Unitas Fratrum ngesiLatin.

Laba bahlali babenezizinda ezihlukahlukene. Kwakunabalimi, izicukuthwane, abafundi baseyunivesithi, abadla izambane likapondo nabadla imbuya ngothi, abesilisa nabesifazane, abafelokazi nezintandane, bonke ababenesifiso esisodwa. Babhala: “Sathandaza kuNkulunkulu uqobo lwaKhe samnxusa ukuba asembulele intando yaKhe enhle kuzo zonke izinto. Sasifuna ukuhamba ngezindlela zaKhe.” Ngempela, uBumbano Lwabazalwane, noma AbaZalwane BaseCzech, njengoba lo mphakathi ongamakholwa wabuye wabizwa kanjalo, lwafuna ‘indlela enyinyekile eholela ekuphileni.’ (Mathewu 7:13, 14) Lokhu kufuna kwabo kwembula maphi amaqiniso eBhayibheli? Izinkolelo zabo zazihluke kanjani kulezo ezazamukelwa ngaleso sikhathi, futhi yini esingayifunda kubo?

Babebunqaba Ubudlova Nokuyekethisa

Phakathi nekhulu le-15 ziningana izinhlangano zenkolo ezaba nesandla ekusungulweni koBumbano Lwabazalwane. Enye kwakungamaWaldense, inhlangano  yangekhulu le-12. Ekuqaleni, amaWaldense amonyuka enkolweni yamaRoma Katolika, inkolo yoMbuso eYurophu Ephakathi. Nokho, kamuva abuyela kwezinye izimfundiso zobuKatolika. Elinye iqembu elaba nethonya kwakungamaHussite, abalandeli baJan Hus. Iningi labantu baseCzech lalikule nkolo, kodwa lalingabumbene neze. Elinye iqembu lalilwela izindaba zomphakathi, kanti elinye lalisebenzisa inkolo ukuze lifeze izinhloso zalo zezombusazwe. AbaZalwane futhi bathonywa amaqembu ayekholelwa embusweni weminyaka eyinkulungwane kanye nezazi zeBhayibheli zakulelo zwe nezangaphandle.

UPeter Chelčický (cishe ngo-1390 kuya cishe ku-1460), owayeyisazi seBhayibheli esingumCzech futhi engumholi wezinguquko, wayezijwayele izimfundiso zamaWaldense nezamaHussite. Wawashiya amaHussite ngoba inhlangano yawo yayisiqale ukusebenzisa izindlela zobudlova, wawashiya namaWaldense ngenxa yokuyekethisa kwawo. Wayengahambisani nempi ethi ayibona ubuKristu. Wayekholelwa ukuthi “umthetho kaKristu” kufanele ulawule umKristu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi lokho kungaba namiphi imiphumela. (Galathiya 6:2; Mathewu 22:37-39) Ngo-1440, uChelčický wabhala izimfundiso zakhe encwadini ethi Net of the Faith.

UGregory wasePrague, owayephila ngesikhathi sesazi uChelčický kodwa emncane kunaso, zamthonya kakhulu izimfundiso zikaChelčický kangangokuba waze wayishiya inhlangano yamaHussite. Ngo-1458, uGregory wabonisana namaqembu amancane ayekade engamaHussite  wawakholisa ukuba ashiye imizi yawo ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene zeCzechia. Ayephakathi kwalawo amlandela aya edolobheni laseKunwald, lapho baqala khona umphakathi omusha ongamakholwa. Kamuva, amaqembu amaCzech namaWaldense aseJalimane abalandela.

Ukubheka Esikhathini Esedlule

Kusukela ngo-1464 kuya ku-1467, leli qembu elisha kodwa nokho elandayo laba nemikhandlu eminingana kule ndawo yaseKunwald, lamukela nezinqumo eziningana ezazichaza inhlangano yalo entsha yenkolo. Zonke izinqumo zazibhalwa ngokucophelela emiqulwini, manje ebizwa ngokuthi i-Acta Unitatis Fratrum (Izenzo ZoBumbano Lwabazalwane), esekhona nanamuhla. I-Acta yenza sikwazi ukubona esikhathini esedlule, iveza isithombe esicacile salokho abaZalwane ababekukholelwa. Le miqulu inezincwadi, izinkulumo ezibhaliwe, ngisho nemininingwane yezimpikiswano zabo.

Mayelana nezinkolelo zabaZalwane, i-Acta ithi: “Sizimisele ukusekela inkolo yethu ngokufunda iBhayibheli kuphela nangokuzindla ngesibonelo seNkosi yethu nabaphostoli abangcwele, ukuthobeka nokubekezela, ukuthanda izitha zethu, sizenzele futhi sizifisele okuhle, futhi sizithandazele.” Imibhalo ibonisa nokuthi  ekuqaleni abaZalwane babeshumayela. Babehamba ngababili, futhi abesifazane babephumelela ekubeni izithunywa zevangeli endaweni. Babezigwema izikhundla zezombusazwe, bengazenzi izifungo, bengahlanganyeli kwezempi futhi bengaziphathi izikhali.

Uqhekeko Ngemva Kobumbano

Nokho, ngemva kwamashumi athile eminyaka, uBumbano Lwabazalwane, lwahluleka ukulandela igama lalo. Izimpikiswano mayelana nokuthi izinkolelo zalo kwakufanele zigcinwe kanjani ngempela zenza kwaba noqhekeko. Ngo-1494 abaZalwane bahlukana baba amaqembu amabili—iQembu Elikhulu neQembu Elincane. Nakuba iQembu Elikhulu layekethisa ezinkolelweni zalo zasekuqaleni, iQembu Elincane lafundisa ukuthi abaZalwane kufanele bahlale beqinile bengangeni ezindabeni zezombusazwe nezezwe.—Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Kuthiwani NgeQembu Elikhulu?”

Ngokwesibonelo, elinye ilungu leQembu Elincane labhala: “Abantu abahamba ezindleleni ezimbili banesiqiniseko esincane sokuthi bayohlala benoNkulunkulu, ngoba kuyaqabukela bezinikela futhi bezithoba kuYe nalokho bekwenza  ezintweni ezingasho lutho, kanti ezintweni ezinesisindo benza abakuthandayo . . . Thina silangazelela ukuba phakathi kwalabo abanengqondo engonakalisiwe nonembeza omuhle—abalandela iNkosi uKristu nsuku zonke endleleni enyinyekile bethwele iziphambano zabo.”

Amalungu eQembu Elincane ayethi umoya ongcwele ungamandla kaNkulunkulu asebenzayo, “umunwe” wakhe. Indlela ayeqonda ngayo isihlengo sikaJesu yayiwukuthi, umuntu ophelele uJesu wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe kobuntu ekhokhela lokho okwalahlwa isoni u-Adamu. Ayengamdumisi uMariya, unina kaJesu. Abuyisa imfundiso yokuthi wonke amakholwa angabapristi futhi akudingekile afungele ukungashadi. Ayekhuthaza wonke amalungu ebandla ukuba ashumayele obala futhi ayezixosha izoni ezingaphenduki. Ayengahlanganyeli nhlobo kwezempi nakwezombusazwe. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Lokho AbaZalwane BeQembu Elincane Ababekukholelwa.”) Njengoba iQembu Elincane lanamathela ezinqumweni ze-Acta, lalithi yilo eliyinhlangano yoBumbano Lwabazalwane eyasungulwa ekuqaleni.

Bakhuluma Ngokungagunci Futhi Bashushiswa

IQembu Elincane lazigxeka ngokungagwegwesi ezinye izinkolo, kuhlanganise neQembu Elikhulu. Libhala ngalezi zinkolo lathi: “Nifundisa ukuthi kudingekile ukubhapathiza izinsana ezingenalo ukholo lwazo, futhi ngalokhu nilandela imfundiso yombhishobhi okuthiwa uDionysius, owathi ngenxa yokugqugquzelwa abantu abangahlakaniphile wagcizelela ukubhapathizwa kwezinsana . . . Cishe bonke abafundisi nezazi zenkolo bayakholelwa kule mfundiso, oLuther, uMelanchthon, uBucerus, uKorvín, uJiles, uBullinger, . . . iQembu Elikhulu, bonke bayavumelana.”

Akumangalisi ukuthi iQembu Elincane lashushiswa. Ngo-1524 omunye umholi walo, uJan Kalenec, wabhaxabulwa futhi washiswa. Kamuva amalungu amathathu eQembu Elincane ashiswa esigxotsheni. Kubonakala sengathi iQembu Elincane lanyamalala ngawo-1550, ngemva kokufa komholi walo wokugcina.

Noma kunjalo, amakholwa eQembu Elincane ayibeka induku ebandla kwezenkolo zangenkathi ephakathi eYurophu. Yiqiniso, njengoba “ulwazi lweqiniso” lwalungakabi luningi ngezikhathi zeQembu Elincane, alizange liphumelele ukuxosha ubumnyama obungokomoya obase buhlale isikhathi eside. (Daniyeli 12:4) Noma kunjalo, isifiso salo esinamandla sokufuna indlela enyinyekile nokuyilandela naphezu kokuphikiswa kuyinto okumelwe amaKristu namuhla ayiqaphele.

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 13]

Izincwadi ezingu-50 kwezingu-60 zamaBohemia (Czech) ezanya-theliswa kusukela ngo-1500 kuya ku-1510 kuthiwa zanyatheliswa amalungu oBumbano Lwabazalwane

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 11]

Kuthiwani NgeQembu Elikhulu?

Kwagcina kwenzekeni ngeQembu Elikhulu? Ngemva kokuba iQembu Elincane lingasekho, iQembu Elikhulu laqhubeka liyinhlangano yenkolo, eyayisabizwa ngokuthi uBumbano Lwabazalwane. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, leli qembu lazishintsha izinkolelo zalo zasekuqaleni. Ekupheleni kwekhulu le-16, uBumbano Lwabazalwane lwenza isivumelwano neCzech Utraquists, * empeleni eyayingamaLuthela. Nokho, abaZalwane baqhubeka nokuhumusha kanye nokunyathelisa iBhayibheli nezinye izincwadi zenkolo. Okuthakazelisayo ukuthi emakhasini abanyathelisi ezincwadi zabo zokuqala kwakukhona iTetragrammaton, njengoba zibizwa kanjalo izinhlamvu zesiHebheru ezine zegama likaNkulunkulu.

Ngo-1620, umbuso wamaCzech waphoqelelwa ukuba ulawulwe amaRoma Katolika. Ngenxa yalokho, abaZalwane abaningi beQembu Elikhulu balifulathela lelo zwe baqhubeka nemisebenzi yabo kwamanye amazwe. Kulawo mazwe, leli qembu labuye labizwa ngokuthi iMoravian Church (iMoravia ingenye yamazwe aseCzech), esekhona namanje.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 12]

Lokho AbaZalwane BeQembu Elincane Ababekukholelwa

Lezi zingcaphuno ezilandelayo ezithathwe emiqulwini ye-Acta Unitatis Fratrum yangekhulu le-15 nele-16 zibonisa ezinye zezinkolelo zeQembu Elincane. Lezi zinkulumo, ezibhalwe abaholi beQembu Elincane, ngokuyinhloko zibhekiswe eQenjini Elikhulu.

UZiqu-zintathu: “Uma ubheka kulo lonke iBhayibheli, ngeke ukuthole ukuthi uNkulunkulu uwuZiqu-zintathu, abantu abathathu ngamunye onegama lakhe, njengoba abantu becabanga kanjalo.”

Umoya ongcwele: “Umoya ongcwele ungumunwe kaNkulunkulu futhi uyisipho sikaNkulunkulu, noma umduduzi, noma Amandla kaNkulunkulu, uBaba awanika amakholwa ngenxa kaKristu. Asikutholi emiBhalweni Engcwele ukuthi umoya ongcwele kufanele ubizwe ngokuthi uNkulunkulu noma uMuntu; izimfundiso zabaphostoli nazo azikubonisi lokho.”

Ubupristi: “Banibiza ngokungafanele ngokuthi ‘ningabapristi’; uma ningaphucile ukhakhayi ningenawo namafutha, anihlukile kubantu nje abavamile. USaint Peter ufuna wonke amaKristu abe abapristi, uthi: Niwubupristi obungcwele ninikela ngemihlatshelo engokomoya. (1 Petru 2)”

Ubhapathizo: “INkosi uKristu yatshela abaphostoli bayo: Yanini ezweni lonke, nishumayele iVangeli kuyo yonke indalo, kulabo abayonikholwa. (uMarku, isahluko 16) Uma senenze lokhu: babhapathizwa, bayosindiswa. Nibuye nifundise ukuthi izinsana ezingenalo ukholo lwazo kufanelwe zibhapathizwe.”

Ukungathathi-hlangothi: “Lokho abazalwane benu basekuqaleni ababethi kubi futhi akuhlanzekile, ukuhlanganyela kwezempi nokubulala noma ukuphatha izikhali lapho nihamba ezitaladini, nina nithi konke lokhu kuhle . . . Ngakho sicabanga ukuthi nina, kanye nabanye abafundisi, aniwaqondi ngokuphelele la mazwi ayisiprofetho athi: Kanjalo waphula imiphini evuthayo yomnsalo, isihlangu nenkemba nempi. (IHubo 75 [IHubo 76 kuyi-Nguqulo Yezwe Elisha]) Kuthiwa futhi: Ngeke neze kulimaze noma kubangele incithakalo kuyo yonke intaba yami engcwele; ngoba umhlaba weNkosi uyogcwala ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu, njalonjalo. (u-Isaya, isahluko 11).”

Ukushumayela: “Sazi kahle ukuthi, ekuqaleni, abesifazane baye baphendula abantu abaningi kunabo bonke abapristi nababhishobhi. Kodwa manje abapristi bazinzile ezikhundleni zabo nasezindaweni zabo abazakhelwe isonto. Yeka ukuthi lokhu kuyiphutha kanjani! Iyani kulo lonke izwe. Shumayelani . . . kuyo yonke indalo.”

[Amabalazwe ekhasini 10]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

GERMANY

POLAND

CZECH REPUBLIC

BOHEMIA

UMfula I-Elbe

PRAGUE

UMfula IVltava

Klatovy

Chelčice

Kunwald

Vilémov

MORAVIA

UMfula IDanube

[Izithombe ekhasini 10, 11]

Kwesobunxele: UPeter Chelčický; ngezansi: ikhasi elithathwe encwadini ethi “Net of the Faith”

[Isithombe ekhasini 11]

UGregory wasePrague

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 13]

All images: S laskavým svolením knihovny Národního muzea v Praze, C̆esko