Evangelical Missionaries in Catholic Countries

[Becky]

In addition to what others have said Bob, I strongly reccommend that you read Prisoners of Hope: The Story of Our Captivity and Freedom in Afghanistan by Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer. Dayna and Heather are both Baylor Alums, and were imprisoned in Fall 2001 (?? I’m not good with dates) because they were sharing the Gospel in Afghanistan, ran by the Taliban at the time. Their book is available at Amazon.com, at bookstores nationwide, and perhaps at your local library. I was at their Homecoming at the Ferrell Center in Waco, and they have a pretty inresting story.

In Christ,
Becky

 

[Serafin]

Hi There

My family has had many opportunities to meet Baptist missionaries.

I do understand this, several people in my family are committed Baptists. It can be a little intimidating at times but …lots of fun!

The missionaries even try to “save” me when they find out I am RC.

This unfortunately does happen, not just with Baptist Missionaries and Roman Catholics. As an Anglican I have been “evangelized” several times by well meaning Pentecostals and other Evangelicals. I do not think they necessarily mean ill by this, they do take their faith seriously and are aware that many people profess a faith that they do not practice. Those times are perfect oportunities, if you are a Christian, to share with them about your relationship with Christ and your love of the Church:

Are you saved? ask they, Are you born again? Well of course answer I, Jesus the Christ is my Lord and saviour, praise God! What about you, have you also put your trust in Christ… Do you read the Bible? ask they …well of course answer I …and comment on the mass readings for Sunday! It does not have to be an intimidating experience, and maybe it will encourage all of us to share our faith.

You would be surprised as to the reactions you get…most are not uncharitable, just surprised and often glad. You know, it is my experience that when you speak to a fellow Christian about Christ there is often an unspoken “confirmation” by the Holy Spirit that you are both children of God.

I wonder if more Catholics answered Baptist missionaries like this, if they would still “know” RC’s are “not saved”. The problem is that for many RC in Latin America and elsewhere, their own faith is as “foreign” to them as that which the missionaries preach to them. May God help us all change that!

Blessings

Serafin

 

[SeanG]

AMEN! Wonderful post Serafin.

Might I add what Jesus Christ said about this:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Christ said all nations, and Evangelicals take that statement literally. Many non-Christians are being brought into the fold by these Evangelical missionaries! The angels in Heaven rejoice over one sinner coming to Christ!

---

Becky

Becky,

As I’ve tried to point out in other posts and in my interchange with Serafin, many of the nations to which evangelical missionaries travel are already predominately Christian.

The consciences of evangelicals may tell them that they are not. But the consciences of those living there, if prodded appropriately, would be able to recognize that they are already Christian and so not in need of the evangelization that evangelicals offer.

They, as all Christians do, need a continuing conversion to the Lord. But that is different from the initial conversion that evangelization seeks to elicit.

The ‘prodding’ to which I refer is nothing less than the duty that the Catholic faithful have to strengthen their brothers and sisters in the faith. And many Catholics are indeed taking up that call. But it is a large task, given that there are over one billion Catholics in the world.

I simply wish that Protestants, who stood firm on the grounds of freedom of conscience in the Reformation, would respect the freedom of the conscience of those men and women who are already Christian.

They might not be able to articulate their faith in the same manner as evangelicals, but that, in no way, means that they lack that faith.

 

[Becky]

Sean,

Brazil, if I recall correctly, is the largest Roman Catholic country in the world. Do you know how many Brazilians practice both Roman Catholicism and Santeria at the same time? Do you know that Christianity and Santeria are incompatiable faiths?

In addition to these RC/Santeria practioners, there are still many pagan tribes left in South America, just ask Thomas Howard’s sister, Elisabeth Elliott. The Gospel needs to be brought to these tribes.

Moving on, just south of Rio Grande I have recently learned of a Mexican folk saint called *La Santa Muerte. *Mexicans are going to a scarey-looking voodoo-like goddess and offering her food, $$$, etc., etc., etc. in exchange for love, health, wealth, etc., etc., etc. (There was a story about this *folk saint *in the LA Times in March if you’re interested in reading about it.) Clearly, there are Mexicans who do not know Christ.

No, just because someone has been baptised doesn’t mean that they know Christ. Hitler was baptised and he certainly, IMO, did not know Christ and is paying for his sins right now.

The most important reason is that Christ said all nations and this includes traditional Roman Catholic nations as well, which also includes a highly secularized France-we need to send more missionaries to that country as well.

Christ commanded that we go to all nations, the case is closed as far as I’m concerned.

In Christ,
Becky

 

[Serafin]

Becky:

Sean,

Brazil, if I recall correctly, is the largest Roman Catholic country in the world. Do you know how many Brazilians practice both Roman Catholicism and Santeria at the same time? Do you know that Christianity and Santeria are incompatiable faiths?

In addition to these RC/Santeria practioners, there are still many pagan tribes left in South America, just ask Thomas Howard’s sister, Elisabeth Elliott. The Gospel needs to be brought to these tribes.

Moving on, just south of Rio Grande I have recently learned of a Mexican folk saint called *La Santa Muerte. *Mexicans are going to a scarey-looking voodoo-like goddess and offering her food, $$$, etc., etc., etc. in exchange for love, health, wealth, etc., etc., etc. (There was a story about this *folk saint *in the LA Times in March if you’re interested in reading about it.) Clearly, there are Mexicans who do not know Christ.

No, just because someone has been baptised doesn’t mean that they know Christ. Hitler was baptised and he certainly, IMO, did not know Christ and is paying for his sins right now.

The most important reason is that Christ said all nations and this includes traditional Roman Catholic nations as well, which also includes a highly secularized France-we need to send more missionaries to that country as well.

Christ commanded that we go to all nations, the case is closed as far as I’m concerned.

In Christ,
Becky

Amen and Amen!!!

Serafin

 

[SeanG]

Becky,

I still think that there is a fundamental difference between the task of evangelization and the task of calling Christians (however nominal and misguided they might be) to a continuing conversion.

And, frankly, there are a lot of evangelicals and fundamentalists out there who believe that all who identify themselves as Catholic are not Christian. I suspect that a good number of them are or have been missionaries to countries that are predominately Catholic.

As a person who has been blessed with the resources to learn my faith well and to grow in my relationship with Christ through the means that he provided in the Church, I am offended that other brothers and sisters in Christ refuse to consider me a Christian, even I believe, along with the Catholic Church, that they, by virtue of their faith and baptism, are also Christians.

Serafin:

As an Anglican I have been “evangelized” several times by well meaning Pentecostals and other Evangelicals. I do not think they necessarily mean ill by this, they do take their faith seriously and are aware that many people profess a faith that they do not practice.

I think that the phenomenon that you bring up is indicative of the attitude of many evangelicals in which they believe that those who cannot explain their faith in the same phraseology as they do are not therefore Christian.

Such an attitude, I believe, shows a profound lack of respect for other Christians on the part of such evangelicals.

In any case, there seems to be a contradiction with evangelicals on the way in which they determine if another person is or is not a Christian.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but for evangelicals, the ‘locus’ of where a person becomes a Christian is solely within his or her heart, i.e., the conscience. If a man accepts in his heart that Christ is Lord and Savior, then he is a Christian.

Since no other person can read the heart of anyone else, how can one have absolute assurance that another person is indeed a Christian? That would seem to be crucial in evangelization.

Now one might point to scripture and say, ‘By their works you shall know them.’ Fair enough, although I think that leaning too much on that can easily take one down the road to what evangelicals call a ‘works theology.’

But even after one has, from an evangelical’s perspective, been saved, that person will, to one degree or another, continue to sin and sin grievously after accepting Christ.

Now one might say in response that it is a matter of degree. Christians don’t sin that much. Non-Christians sin a lot more. But isn’t that quite subjective?

It could easily lead to what we see going on in Catholic countries, where men and women who are Christians, have no respect shown for their faith by evangelical missionaries who go there trying to ‘save them.’

 

[Serafin]

Hi there

I think that the phenomenon that you bring up is indicative of the attitude of many evangelicals in which they believe that those who cannot explain their faith in the same phraseology as they do are not therefore Christian .Such an attitude, I believe, shows a profound lack of respect for other Christians on the part of such evangelicals.

Christians should have respect for other Christians I agree, but is that really what is happening? Here is an alternative explanation…from Barna Research. This is in the US but you will get the point… Are you suggesting that an Evangelical who meets one of these “catholics” is really going to think they are committed Christians if at all?

The theological gap between Protestants and Catholics was unmistakable. The average gap between the two groups on the core measures was 22-percentage points. For example, Protestants were twice as likely to strongly affirm the accuracy of the Bible (61% - 31%), a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others (47% - 22%), the holiness of Christ while He was on earth (52% - 26%), and the existence of Satan (31% - 14%). Protestants were five times more likely to strongly reject the idea of salvation by w…orks (41% vs. 8%) .

Maybe it is a question of how people explain their faith, maybe a problem with having faith , maybe the rpoblem is catechesis. What do you think?

Catholics are less likely than adults nationwide to believe that Jesus lived without sin (38% of Catholics versus 48% of U.S. adults). (2004)
29% of catholics have read the Bible in the past week, not including when they were at church. (2004)
37% of Catholicsindicated that they are absolutely committed to the Christian faith. (2004).Among born again Christians, 71% say they are “absolutely committed” to the Christian faith. (2001) 86% of Evangelicals say they are absolutely committed to Christianity. (2002).

There also may be a real commitment problem. So, what should evangelicals do when they meet someone like this? Congratulate them, evangelize them, send them to confession?

Blessings

Serafin

 

[Serafin]

Hi there:

But even after one has, from an evangelical’s perspective, been saved, that person will, to one degree or another, continue to sin and sin grievously after accepting Christ. Now one might say in response that it is a matter of degree. Christians don’t sin that much. Non-Christians sin a lot more. But isn’t that quite subjective?

I dont know you tell me! This research is interesting, not all seems so subjective it sure seems we all have a lot to learn from evangelicals, and less cause to feel insulted or threatened by them! :tiphat:

**
Barna research Institute

Evangelicals: Few in Number, Different in Lifestyle
Christian evangelicals are a small proportion of the national population, representing just 7% of the adult mass. However, they are the group whose faith is most clearly evident in their behavioral choices. The survey divided the population into five faith segments (evangelicals, non-evangelical born again Christians, notional Christians, adherents of non-Christian faiths, and atheists/agnostics).

Evangelicals emerged as the group most likely to do each of the following:
discuss spiritual matters with other people

·volunteer at a church or non-profit organization

·discuss political matters with other people

·discuss moral issues and conditions with others

·stop watching a television program because of its values or viewpoints

·go out of their way to encourage or compliment someone
Evangelicals were also distinguished by being the segment least likely to engage in the following endeavors:

·contact a political official

·view pornographic media

·read their horoscope

·use tobacco products There is a strong connection between the faith views and practices of evangelicals and their lifestyle. Evangelicals also emerged as the group most likely to attend church; pray to God; and read the Bible. By definition, they believe in the accuracy of the Bible, contend that they have a personal responsibility to share their faith with others, claim that their religious faith is very important in their life, reject the idea that Jesus Christ sinned, describe God as the Creator who still rules the universe today, and believe that Satan is real. That body of beliefs – and the worldview it represents – has produced a distinct way of living in an increasingly postmodern culture – a lifestyle that is increasingly at odds with the accepted norms. **

Given statistics for other groups including Anglicans and Roman Catholics I am not insulted when evangelized, I am interested!

Blessings

Serafin

 

[SeanG]

Serafin,

One of the primary themes that George Barna has repeated in his various studies is the poor understanding of the faith that Christians across the entire spectrum have.

But aside from that, I think that it is important to understand that Barna is not only an evangelical Christian but one who is formerly Catholic.

This fact makes me wonder if his results, which seem to show that Catholics have a poor understanding of their faith, is in part due to the way that he formulated his questions.

If he formulated them out of his evangelical background, then I suspect that his results might be skewed. A Catholic being asked questions about their faith by an evangelical often does not wholly understand them because of either a difference in terminology used or a different understanding of those terms.

In any case, what you wrote does not address the problem that I raised in my earlier post. Namely, evangelicals have the problem of on the one hand saying that one becomes a Christian solely within the heart but, on the other hand, having the inability to read another’s heart, despite the outward actions and words that another person might show.

How can an Evangelical be fundamentally sure that the person that they are evangelizing is not a Christian already, especially in cases where they are evangelizing in predominately Catholic countries?

 

[Serafin]

SeanG:

Serafin,

One of the primary themes that George Barna has repeated in his various studies is the poor understanding of the faith that Christians across the entire spectrum have.But aside from that, I think that it is important to understand that Barna is not only an evangelical Christian but one who is formerly Catholic.

Does this mean that we are somehow trust less the results of his surveys due to inherent bias, and by extension pay less attention to the converts to Catolicism from Protestantism as many here are?

This fact makes me wonder if his results, which seem to show that Catholics have a poor understanding of their faith, is in part due to the way that he formulated his questions.

Its possible but …was Jesus sinless?.. seems a pretty straight forward question to me…!

to be continued…

Serafin

 

[Serafin]

Hi There:

If he formulated them out of his evangelical background, then I suspect that his results might be skewed. A Catholic being asked questions about their faith by an evangelical often does not wholly understand them because of either a difference in terminology used or a different understanding of those terms.

Granted …with many doubts ! How about this one from the Catholic Register…about US Hispanics?

Latinos were significantly less likely

than Anglos (54 percent to 70 percent) to be registered members of a parish. They were also less likely to attend Mass at least weekly (30 percent to 39 percent). On the other hand, they were stronger in their commitment to Mary as the mother of God, perhaps reflecting their attachment to Our Lady of Guadalupe. And they were less likely than Anglos to agree that how a person lives is more important than whether he or she is a Catholic. On the question of the locus of moral authority, they were significantly more likely than Anglos to stress conscience above church leaders and to distance themselves even further from church leaders on the morality of abortion and on non-marital sex. They were also significantly more supportive than Anglos of the idea of having women as priests.
If I did not know better I would have though this was refering to a group of poorly catechized liberal Episcopalians devoted to Mary. In all charity brother, what does it seem like to you? You cannot cover the sun by putting yor missal in front of it, there seems to be a problem…and not with evangelicals!

In any case, what you wrote does not address the problem that I raised in my earlier post. Namely, evangelicals have the problem of on the one hand saying that one becomes a Christian solely within the heart but, on the other hand, having the inability to read another’s heart, despite the outward actions and words that another person might show.

No I think evangelicals, specially in latin America, do not assume that anyone who worships pagan gods, frecuents witches, does not go to mass, beats his wife, is unfaithful to spouse, does not read the Bible or has any discernible commitment to Jesus is any kind of Christian …good for them! I think the problem may lie elsewhere…that you should consider.

How can an Evangelical be fundamentally sure that the person that they are evangelizing is not a Christian already, especially in cases where they are evangelizing in predominately Catholic countries?

When in doubt…evangelize! I wonder if Jesus statements in Scripture are more in line with their praxis than with your theory. What do you think?

Blessings

Serafin

 

[SeanG]

Serafin,

I do not deny that there are fundamental problems among some of the faithful of the local Churches in Central and South America. What I argued from the start of this thread, however, was that the responsibility of addressing this problem lies with the rest of the faithful of the Catholic Church.

It does not lie with evangelical missionaries who presume that Catholics who are in dire need of a profound ‘second’ or continuing conversion are, in fact, not Christian at all.

Now one might argue that the rest of the faithful of the Catholic Church are not taking up that responsibility and so therefore it is taken up by evangelical Christians.

Such an argument would be an inaccurate assessment of the situation. There are indeed many devout Catholics both within Central and South American and from elsewhere, including the United States, who are doing much to strengthen the faith of their brothers and sisters in Christ there.

But the work that they are doing is not evangelization, for they recognize from those men and women as being Christians, just ones that are in dire need of help.

Nevertheless, the problem is a large one because there is an enormously large number of Catholics in that region. But one cannot say that the faithful of the Catholic Church are doing nothing about it.

 

[SeanG]

Serafin:

When in doubt…evangelize! I wonder if Jesus statements in Scripture are more in line with their praxis than with your theory. What do you think?

I think that you may have misunderstood my ‘theory.’ My theory is that those who are not Christian need not be evangelized. In fact, it is an act of profound disrespect to evangelize them. We might call them to a second or continuing conversion. But this is fundamentally different than evangelization.

Jesus, in everything that he was and is, revealed both what God and what man truly is. And in doing this he called us to have a deep respect for both.

Accepting Christ as Lord and then not following his call is an offense against him.

 

[BobCatholic]

“Evangelical missionaries in Catholic countries are bigots. They think Catholics are not Christian.” If you believe a group of people (such as the JWs or Mormons) were not Christian would you not witness to them? Put down that “mirror”.

How are Catholics NOT Christian? We believe in Jesus Christ. We have faith in Jesus Christ. We trust in Christ as our Salvation. According to this, the evangelical standard, we are Christians. Period.

JW’s don’t believe in Jesus Christ - they believe in Jesus as Michael the Archangel. They’re not Christian, but are Angelicals (is there such a term?)

Mormons are Christans, through polytheists.

Both of these are not even with 50 miles of a majority (except for maybe Utah for Mormons )

My point is: When there are limited resources, and there are people to send missionaries to, who should one send to PRIORITY WISE: non-Christians like Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists or Christians whom you disagree with their interpretation of scripture? I would think the non-Christians should have top priority. But nooooooooooo, they seek to go after Catholics, thinking that we are not Christians - and thus this is the bigotry.

We Catholics ARE Christians - deal with that fact - so put down YOUR mirror!

When anyone says that Catholics are NOT Christian that is a giant lie, which violates the “no false witness” commandment which someone’s mirror forces them to not obey.

 

[corkybob]

SeanG:

I think that wide presence and apparent effectiveness of Evangelical missionaries in traditionally Catholic countries (especially in Central and South America) is a phenomenon about which Catholics in general should be concerned.

What are the fundamental issues at play in the phenomenon?

I think that one of them is the differing understanding between Catholics and Evangelicals about the meaning of baptism. Does baptism make one a Christian or not, despite the nature of the life of faith that is lived afterwards?

What can we, as Catholics, do to change this situation?

Enter into dialogue with Evangelicals so as to attempt to help them at least respect our beliefs (including those about baptism), if not necessarily agree with them?

Encourage a stronger ongoing catechesis in these countries so that when the faithful there meet Evangelical missionaries they will be well grounded in their faith and less likely to be persuaded by them?

I would be interested to read the answers to these questions and the comments of the readers on this important phenomenon in the life of the Church in the 21st century.

My understanding is that with the Priest shortage, there are not enough priests to see the masses of Catholics in South America. A South American who is poorly catachised will search for Christ with who ever will deliver the good news. What we need is more Catholic Priests in South America to minister to the masses.

Pax
John

 

[Serafin]

Hi there:

Interesting reflection about the topic by a latino

But what is it that makes Latin Americans flock to the evangelical churches? First, it is two fundamental messages: the person of Jesus Christ and the Bible. Second, the evangelicals build an empirical theology, based not so much on theological reflections, but on experience and daily reality. Their detractors do not hesitate to label them “fundamentalists” and even “fanatics.”

How is the evangelical message presented? It states that the common person, though poor, sick, full of problems and lacking a reason to live, can find a solution. Which one? “Jesus Christ!” answers the evangelical with energy and conviction.

Phrases such as: “Jesus is alive” - “He has power” - “God will take you out of your problems” - “God can heal you” - “You can find meaning for your life if you surrender to Christ” are recurrent and common in the preaching of the evangélicos. Thus, while the Roman Catholic Church in Latin America is seeking ecclesiastical reform, the evangelicals have concentrated their message in two elements (Christ and the Bible) and have discovered that it is exactly what the people want and need to hear. Of course, the message does not exhaust itself with the preaching, but innumerable testimonies show that it is really helping the people to reorder their priorities, giving them an optimistic outlook in life, helping them solve their family problems (i.e., by saving and investing money that otherwise would be spent in alcohol and “fiestas”) and encouraging them to seek a better education for their children and more productivity at work.

Not without reason, the evangelical message constantly emphasizes that “everything you do, you do it for God.” Moreover, can anyone imagine the impact on the poor when they hear that “you have access to the unlimited power of God through prayer, and control over your circumstances,” rather than the other way around?

Its so simple and eye opening…I love it!

Serafin

 

[Becky]

There is a difference between evangelizing the lost and empowering, for lack of a better term, our brethren, however; just because one is baptised a RC in Rio de Janiero does not make them a Christian.

Here’s an American example. Little Lucy was born and brought up as an RC right in the heart of Cajun country, New Orleans. She went to Mass with her parents on Sundays, but on special days her parents would buy a chicken and take her to a special priestess who would then sacrifice the chicken to a voodoo idol. As time went by Lucy spent more time at Madam’s house worshipping the voodoo idols that she had grown up with. She meets another self-proclaimed RC who practices voodoo, and they decide to live together. This union eventually produces a son who is baptised as an RC. This small family occasionally go to Mass, and they also worship the voodoo gods at Madam’s house.

Is Lucy a Christian? Does she have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Given her current state will she go to Heaven?

Let me give you an Amercian example. Little Johnny was baptised RC, and was raised in NYC. Growing up he was an altar boy, had a Jesuit education from grade school to college, and went to Mass every Sunday with his family growing up. After college he drafted into the US Army, and was shipped off to Vietnam. He was shocked and saddened by the horrors of what he saw while fighting the enemy. His faith was completely shattered as he came back to the US after his tour of duty. He eventually meets and marries another Italian RC gal. They occasionaly go to Mass, have their daughter baptised at their parish church, but are not seriously committed to living out their RC faith. Johnny is proud of his RC heritage and proudly proclaims that “I’m a Catholic!” though he doesn’t really believe in God anymore.

Is Johnny a Christian? Does he have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Given his current state will he go to Heaven?

Are Mormons, who believe themselves to be Christian, not offended when we evanglise to them? After all, we believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a false religion, and regardless to how they feel we evangelize anyway. Frankly speaking, feelings of others do not matter if we believe that their soul is in grave jeopardy.

In Christ,
Becky

 

[Becky]

(continued from the above post)

It could easily lead to what we see going on in Catholic countries, where men and women who are Christians,

That is an assumption Sean. How many Latin Americans do you personally know? Out of the Latin Americans that you personally know how many profess Christ and follow Him by going to Church, reading their Bible, etc., etc., etc. and not practice false religions like Santeria?

If someone believed that you were in a burning house would you want them to try and save you? I would want them to save me, and I would be grateful that they love me enough to share what they understand as truth with me and getting me out of that burning house. Take a few steps back and look at this through their eyes.

Thank you for your courteous tone

In Christ,
Becky

 

[Serafin]

(continued from the above post)

That is an assumption Sean. How many Latin Americans do you personally know? Out of the Latin Americans that you personally know how many profess Christ and follow Him by going to Church, reading their Bible, etc., etc., etc. and not practice false religions like Santeria?

If someone believed that you were in a burning house would you want them to try and save you? I would want them to save me, and I would be grateful that they love me enough to share what they understand as truth with me and getting me out of that burning house. Take a few steps back and look at this through their eyes.

Thank you for your courteous tone

In Christ,
Becky

Becky:

As a Hispanic, witness to the sad reality of religious syncretism and a cultural acceptance of RC rituals which have no connection to faith I can relate to your comments…and say Amen! :clapping:

Serafin

 

[Maccabees]

As a Hispanic, witness to the sad reality of religious syncretism and a cultural acceptance of RC rituals which have no connection to faith I can relate to your comments…and say Amen

Well I hate to burst this stereotype my dad is Mexican and his entire family is still in Mexico and no one practices Senteria or cuts off the heads of chickens etc. You guys are plain ridiculous. Are there village witch doctors that combine catholicism with thier own rituals and witchcraft and make a hybrid senteria. Sure but none of this taught by the church nor sanctioned by the church it is condemned.
Mormonism is hybrid of protestant and Joseph Smith delusions is that the fault of protestants? Christian Science is also protestantism and Mary Baker Eddy delusions. And there are many more quasi protestant sects whcih mix protestant thought with their own it is not the protestant church that teaches shuch things and they are not responsible for such dribble neither can the catholic church control such fringe catholicism. IT is also widely known that protestant groups have the lady of guadelupe statues in their churches and allow members to still pray to her in latin america. The rosary is also practiced in latin american protestant churches. Is this not a perversion of protestantism? I suspect you check out the entire disjointed religious situation there as opposed to picking on the one group you are stereotyping.