Mmodzi mwa adani oipitsitsa a anthu ndiwo umbuli; mphamvu yowononga ya gawo lalikulu, makamaka pamene munthu sakufuna kuphunzira.

     Taonani mmene zinthu zilili m’dziko lachikhristu. Zipembedzo zambiri zimati ndi mpingo woona, osankhidwa, gulu la Mulungu padziko lapansi, okhawo amene ali ndi choonadi chonse, amene amati amatsatira mokhulupirika ziphunzitso za m’Malemba. Pafupifupi membala aliyense wodzipereka wa gulu loterolo, bungwe, mpingo kapena chipembedzo amakhulupirira izi moona mtima ndipo ali wokonzeka kutsutsana ndi aliyense amene sakugwirizana nazo. Mitima yathu imasangalala tikamaona amuna ndi akazi akuchita zonse zomwe angathe kuti akhale ndi moyo wokondweretsa Mulungu. Komabe, izi ziyenera kuchitika kudzera mu chidziwitso ndi kumvera Mawu Ake. Ngati amuna achita khama pankhaniyi, sipadzakhala magawano ambiri ndi kusiyana koteroko kwa chiphunzitso ndi kupanda ulemu kwa wina ndi mzake.

     Awo amene ali ndi maudindo apamwamba mu mpingo ndiwo ali ndi thayo lalikulu la mkhalidwe umenewu, mikangano, tsankho, kusalolera ngakhale chidani chimene chimawonekera m’dziko Lachikristu, chifukwa ndi iwo amene kaŵirikaŵiri amafesa mbewu za mikangano. Mipingo yakula m’mipingo imeneyi. N’zosadabwitsa kuti Mtumwi Yakobo ayenera kulemba pa nkhani imeneyi kuti: “Musakhale aphunzitsi ambiri, abale anga, podziwa kuti tidzalandira chilango chachikulu.”

     Mikhalidwe yomvetsa chisoni imeneyi, kwakukulukulu, yozikidwa pa umbuli, yosonkhezeredwa ndi mantha, ndi kusonkhezeredwa ndi kutengeka maganizo. Magulu amakayikira ena, chifukwa sadziwana; sadziwa chiphunzitso cha Mawu a Mulungu m’mbali imeneyi ya moyo wachikhristu. Anali ndi ziphunzitso za Paulo monga zopezeka mu 1 Akor. 12:13 ndi Aef. 4:1-6 atalongosoledwa ndi kutsatiridwa, mikhalidwe yoteroyo sikanatheka.

     Kusazindikira sikunathetsebe funso lililonse; choncho, umbuli uyenera kugwetsedwa. Kudziwa Mawu a Mulungu ndiko kuchiza kokha. Komabe nthaŵi zina timapeza kukhala cholefula kukambitsirana, kufotokoza, ndi kulimbikitsa pamene, chifukwa cha umbuli, munthu ali wosalabadira, wokaikira m’maganizo, ngati si mtima, ndipo aumitsa.

     Kusadziwa koteroko kawirikawiri kumaphunziridwa, kotero mwinamwake wina sayenera kutsutsidwa chifukwa cha izo; zikhoza kukhala kuti wina wakhala chida chololera m'manja mwa munthu wochenjera, ndipo wasokonezedwa ndi anthu omwe amamukhulupirira. Pokhutitsidwa ndi kutembenuzidwa, umbuli wasanduka zida za munthu, zomwe palibe kuchuluka kwa kulingalira kapena choonadi cha m'Baibulo chomwe chingalowemo, pokhapokha ngati. Mulungu mu chifundo Chake amatsegula maso ake.

     Njira Yachikristu yolimbana ndi umbuli wa mtundu umenewu ili ndi chisonyezero chosalekeza cha chowonadi, choperekedwa mwachikondi, ndi motsimikizirika, pamene panthaŵi imodzimodziyo akuyamika wina kwa Mulungu, “ndi ku mawu a chisomo chake, okhoza kumangirira inu, ndi kukusungani. ndikupatseni cholowa mwa iwo oyeretsedwa. Mawu kwa amene angakhale aphunzitsi: Phunzirani mosamala ndi mwapemphero. Onani Machitidwe 28:28-32 ndi Miyambo 25:11 .

     Kusazindikira kwa ena sikuli vuto lathu laumwini, kapena kulungamitsidwa kwa zolakwa zathu. Ndi kusazindikira kwathu komwe tiyenera kukumana ndi kuphunzitsidwa kaye. Kodi sitidziŵa mfundo zachikhalidwe zachikristu m’zochita zathu ndi ena? Kodi timazindikira ngati abale onse amene amatchula dzina la Khristu? Kodi pali kunyada, kudziona kukhala wapamwamba kuposa ena—kapena kunyada kulikonse pa umbuli wa mbale wathu? Kodi timaonetsa chidziŵitso chathu m’njira yodzitukumula ndi chotulukapo chakuti mawu athu samvedwa chifukwa cha mkhalidwe wathu?

     Chizindikiro chenicheni cha chidziwitso cha Mkristu chiyenera kuwonedwa. Kudzaonekera m’chizoloŵezi chake chokonda anthu anzake, makamaka a m’banja lachikhulupiriro ( Agal. 6:10 ). Sadzayang’ana m’mwamba, kapena kuderera wina; tsankho lisamasonyezedwe (Yak. 2:2-4).

     Tiyenera kuyesetsa kudziŵa bwino lomwe zimene timakhulupirira, chifukwa chake timazikhulupirira ndi zowona zake, kotero kuti tikhale ndi chidaliro chokwanira cha kulondola kwa chikhulupiriro chathu. Kenako tikhoza kuphunzira bwinobwino zimene wina amakhulupirira, komanso chifukwa chake. Mwina tikamatero ndi maganizo omasuka tidzaona zofooka kapena kusazindikira kwathu. Pamene choonadi chikamveka bwino, tidzayamba kuganiza mokoma mtima, kusonyeza kulolera; tsankho lidzaphwanyidwa, m’malo mwa kumvetsa zinthu. Kuti tichite zimenezi tifunikira kufunitsitsa kuphunzira, kukhala wokonzeka kumvetsetsa, ndi mtima wodzala ndi chikondi kaamba ka Mulungu ndi ena, pakuti popanda chikondi chidziŵitso chathu chidzakhala ngati ‘nganga yolira.’ — 1 Akorinto 13:1 .

     Pali miyeso yosiyanasiyana yomvetsetsa, koma palibe yomwe idaposa yomwe idaperekedwa ndi Mbuye pa Luka 6:31, "Monga mufuna kuti anthu akuchitireni, inunso muwachitire iwo zotero." Ngati tingaphunzire kugwiritsa ntchito lamuloli m’moyo wathu watsiku ndi tsiku, tsankho, kaduka, kukayikirana, tsankho, kaduka, udani, (zonse za umbuli) sizikanakhala ndi mwayi woletsa zilakolako zathu zabwinoko, kapena kuphimba malingaliro athu. Tikadakhala amphamvu ndi otsimikiza chifukwa kudziwa zabwino kukadachotsa nkhungu zaumbuli. “Chifukwa chake dzimanga m’chuuno mwa maganizo anu, khalani odzisunga ndi chiyembekezo mpaka mapeto pa chisomo chimene chidzabweretsedwe kwa inu pa vumbulutso la Yesu Khristu; monga ana omvera, osadzilinganiza monga mwa zilakolako zakale za m’kusazindikira kwanu.” ( 1 Petro 1:13, 14 ) N’chimodzimodzinso ndi zilakolako za thupi la munthu.

One of the worst enemies of mankind is ignorance; a devastating force of great dimension, particularly when man is unwilling to learn.

     Take the situation in the Christian world. Many denominations claim to be the true church, the elect, God’s organization on the earth, the only ones who have the whole truth, claiming to faithfully follow the teachings of Scripture. Almost every devoted member of such group, organization, church or denomination sincerely believes this and is ready to argue with anyone who disagrees. Our hearts are gladdened when we see men and women doing their best to live lives pleasing to God. Yet, this needs to be through a knowledge of and obedience to His Word. If men are diligent in this respect, there will not be so many divisions and such a divergence of teaching and lack of respect for one another.

     Those in high positions in the church are to a large degree responsible for this condition, the dissension, prejudice, intolerance and even hatred that is seen in the Christian world, because it is they who have so often sown seeds of discord. Congregations have grown up in this atmosphere. Small wonder that the Apostle James should write on this subject saying, “My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”

     These lamentable conditions are, for the most part, based on ignorance, fomented by fears, and fanned by emotionalism. Groups are suspicious of others, because they do not know each other; they are ignorant of the teaching of God’s Word in this area of Christian life. Had the teachings of Paul as found in 1 Cor. 12:13 and Eph. 4:1-6 been set forth and followed, such conditions would not prevail.

     Ignorance has never yet settled any question; therefore, ignorance needs to be overthrown. Knowledge of God’s Word is the only cure. Yet we find it discouraging at times to discuss, explain, and exhort when, because of ignorance, one is indifferent, suspicious of mind, if not heart, and is hardened.

     Such ignorance usually is learned, so perhaps one should not be condemned for it; it might be that one has been a willing tool in the hands of a clever man, and has been brainwashed by those one trusted in. Convinced and converted, ignorance has become one’s armor, which no amount of logic or Bible truth can penetrate, unless God in His mercy unveils his eyes.

     The Christian way to combat this kind of ignorance is with a constant presentation of truth, delivered lovingly, and positively, while at the same time commending one to God, “and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among them which are sanctified.” A word to those who would be teachers: Study carefully and prayerfully. See Acts 28:28-32 and Proverbs 25:11.

     The ignorance of others is not our personal problem, nor a justification for our shortcomings. It is our own ignorance that must be met and mastered first. Are we ignorant of Christian principles in our dealings with others? Do we recognize as brethren all who name the name of Christ? Is there pride, and a feeling of superiority—or any condescending attitude toward our brother’s ignorance? Do we display our knowledge in a puffed-up manner with the result that our words are not heard because of our attitude?

     The true mark of a Christian’s knowledge must be seen. It will be reflected in his practice of love for his fellowman, and especially for those of the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). He will neither look up to one, nor down on another; partiality must not be shown (Jas. 2:2-4).

     We should strive to know thoroughly what we believe, why we believe it and what the facts are, so that we are sufficiently confident of the rightness of our belief. We can then competently study what another believes, and why. Perhaps as we do so with an open mind we will see some shortcoming or ignorance of our own. As truths becomes more clear, we will begin to think more kindly, show more tolerance; prejudice will be broken down, replaced by understanding. To do this we need a willingness to learn, a readiness to understand, and a heart full of love for God and others, for apart from love our knowledge will be as a ‘tinkling cymbal’.— 1 Corinthians 13 :1.

     There are many different yardsticks for understanding, but none has surpassed the one given by the Master in Luke 6:31, “As you would that men should do unto you, do you also to them likewise.” If we would learn to put this rule into practice in our daily lives, partiality, jealousy, suspicion, prejudice, envy, hatred, (all components of ignorance) would never have the opportunity to stifle our better impulses, or becloud our mind. We would be strong and sure because the knowledge of good would have dispelled the mists of ignorance. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance” (1 Peter1:13, 14).

G. Boccaccio ©CDMI