Our Catholic Brothers and Sisters

All of the churches I have belonged to over the last 30 years have been very critical and almost dismissive toward Catholics as part of the Christian church. This is due in part to doctrinal differrences, and in part to misunderstanding. Evangelicals are proud of their doctrinal purity and deride Catholics for "works righteousness." (A charge that R.C. Sproul says is slanderous) Yet, I have known many Catholics over the years that love Jesus and show His love through serving others. As I have been pondering the difference between the churches' outlook on Catholics with my personal experience, I ran across this quote, from the 19th Century Dutch Reformed Theologian, Herman Bavinck, that is worth pondering:

We must remind ourselves that the Catholic righteousness by good works is vastly preferable to a Protestant righteousness by good doctrine. At least righteousness by good works benefits one's neighbor, whereas righteousness by good doctrine only produces lovelessness and pride. Furthermore, we must not blind ourselves to the tremendous faith, genuine repentance, complete surrender and the fervent love for God and neighbor evident in the lives and work of many Catholic Christians. The Christian life is so rich that it develops its full glory not just in a single form or within the walls of one church.

Now, this doesn't mean there aren't real doctrinal differences between Catholics and Protestants. But, maybe we should start focusing on what we have common. Think about it.