By Al Colombo
Journalist/Writer

The sub title to Chapman's article was:

An interesting comment don't you think? In my 05 February 2001 Daily Commentary I posed the question to a distant friend: "What do you think about GW?" Her reply was lengthy and pointedly anti-Bush. She reproduced a brief, scathing discussion of G.W.'s alleged connection to the occults and satanism. She also called the RCC (Roman Catholic Church) the "endtimes, whore church (RCC), and not the TRUE Church of Jesus Christ."

Since that commentary was released, several individuals have contacted me regarding 1) the injustice of accusing G.W. as such, and 2) accusing the RCC of being the endtimes, whore church.... On the first count, those who contacted me obviously like and believe in G.W. On the second, the one individual who contacted me is a Roman Catholic, AS AM I.

To the first individual, I asked him to send me a rebuttal, which I have not yet seen. I explained that in a commentary format, we cannot always publish pieces that only project our own conservative, Christian views. Whether www.GiantKillers.Org entirely agrees with a piece or not is not the criteria we use when selecting commentaries.

To the second concern, my reply was two fold:

• First, until the chubby lady sings, this is only one individual's and/or group's interpretation of history and current events--their personal opinion, if you will. Just because a former occultist says that Bush exhibits signs of a worshiping satanist does not make it a 100% fact.
  

  There is also the possibility that someone is spreading misinformation deliberately or mistakenly. There are those individuals who are paid well to do this you know. Also, I might add, where some folks see an empty glass, others see one that is a quarter of the way full. On the other hand, they could be right. You have to make up your own mind on that, and don't forget, things are not always what they appear to be.

• Secondly, concerning the RCC, even if the assertion is correct, that certain officials within the Roman Cathoic Church are wolves in sheep's clothing, I feel certain that not every Roman Catholic will attend hell. Certainly not every practicing Roman Catholic is worshiping satan! To even insinuate such a thing would be preposterous and biblically incorrect (we work out our salvation individually, not jointly).

Please allow me to provide you with what I believe to be an excellent example where folks can take things to an extreme. While talking with a Jehovah Witness friend about the one, true Church of Jesus Christ, I happened to ask him this question: "Some of your (Jehovah Witness) beliefs have changed over the last 100 years, have they not?"

His answer was, "Yes, of course."

My reply to him was, "Then what do you suppose will happen to all those Jehovah Witnesses from 100 years ago? Since they did not have all the facts right, the ones that you believe you do now, do you suppose that these people will be cut off from God after the Great Judgement?"

The simple fact is, the beliefs of most churches have changed over the course of their history. Does this mean that those that held previous beliefs, ones that we now believe to be wrong, are going to be cut off from God? Mankind is in a constant state of change based on current beliefs (due to new revelations, inspiration, and new learnings). But, does that mean that everyone who went before us will not make it to the new earth and/or new heaven, the New Jerusalem?

It's what's in the heart that will largely get a man or woman to the right place when it's all said and done. It's not whether we have every T crossed and I dotted in the right place.

In essance, all of what we believe to be correct is as window dressing--it's important, yes, but it's what's in your heart that counts more. Yes, we need to continue searching for the truth, but we must also know that our knowlege of the true facts will not ever be complete as long as we are in the body. Truthfully, I believe that it's 1) our belief in the Creator--our Father in heaven, 2) our belief in Jesus Christ, His only Son, 3) our spiritual rebirth, and 3) our repentance that gets us there. These are the essentials associated with our eternal survival.

So, what do I think about G.W. Bush? Perhaps we'll leave that for another day--after we've all had time to evaluate his performance and whether he does what he says and is what he professes to be. That could take every bit of four years or we could know within a week. Let us watch and reserve judgement--at least until we hear the chubby lady's opera voice.