Herman Bavinck, the Dutch Reformed theologian of the late 19th and early 20th century, is often credited with a “kinder and gentler” tone when writing about others. He wrote the following in his little book, The Certainty of Faith, about the “works righteousness” perceived in the medieval Roman Catholic Church – and remember, he was writing 60 years prior to Vatican II:
“[W]e 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 neighbour, 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 neighbour 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.”
