Question:
38.2–Why do people judge one another on the way people are on the outside, or on what people do? I know my family obviously isn’t perfect, but we live our life and we live God’s Word and I think that’s what should count, it shouldn’t be that people judge on the stuff of what they heard or what they think. It’s between them and God on what they do. We shouldn’t be discriminated because we’re young. Some people might do stupid stuff sometime in their life, but again it is between them and God and God will decide how to punish them.
Answer:
38.2—At times, it is quite hard to determine WHY people do the things they do (in your question, you cited judging), but we will try to give you the best answer we can! As humans, our old nature tends to look on outward appearances, and we often make a judgment by what we see or hear. We are not called to judge (Matthew 7), yet we are called to treat one another with love. This problem certainly is not new! In James 2:1-13, we read of a group of people who would treat some better than others simply because they dressed better! How silly is that! Yet today, we often do the exact same thing in a different way. Often, we will gossip about things based solely on what we see, and that can tear down our witness. Sadly, man looks on the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7), but that verse continues: God looks on the heart–and that’s wonderful news!
Now, if we happen to be the subject of judging, what should our reaction be? Naturally, we could become very bitter towards the judgmental people. Yet, God tells us what to do in Ephesians 4:31,32 and 5:1,2. He calls us to be kind, forgiving, and loving among other things. Sure, it’s an odd reaction, but it’s definitely one that Jesus would have! Again, we hope this will help you.