Does unconditionally forgiving other people's sins encourage them to sin again? [Spirituality & Religion]

I believe we should forgive other people's sins. God is the One who is to judge people, not us. However, I'm worried about this mentality just making people sin more. If noone's going to judge them (but God, to Whom they're disobedient to, anyways), why not do it again?

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HootyTheNightOwl

Even if people do sin more, that's beyond your control - you can't directly influence another's conduct... and they will ultimately stand before God on judgement day.

Equally, it doesn't mean that you should and must bear the wounds of the wrongs done to you for the rest of time, either. Sometimes, in forgiving others, there is an element of forgiving yourself involved, too - which can be a vital part of your growth as a person and within your faith.

Boallods · 26-30, M

@HootyTheNightOwl I get that. But people may take our forgiveness not as an act of faith and godliness, but as a sign that the misdeed is nothing one should care about. Not only do they sin more thereby, but they get the wrong impression of faith, and God's will isn't heard.

HootyTheNightOwl

@Boallods So, thereby, we should never forgive others based on how they "may" interpret our forgiveness???

Sit and think about how many times you have sinned against God, and how many times you have asked Him for His forgiveness... sometimes along the way, there will be some sins that you committed more than once. Did God turn His back on you, saying "Son, you promised me the first 50 times that you wouldn't commit this sin, already".

No, He forgave you again, anyway, in the hope that you really had learned your lesson, He left His flock to find you when you were lost to Him.

Others are on their own spiritual journey and we can't always force them to hear God's word and heed His will. There are times when we have to hold them up in prayer to God and trust that He will work His miracles in their lives as He does in our lives. Though their lives may take different paths, it doesn't mean that we should stop loving our brothers and sisters when we no longer see them in our lives. They are still sinning as we are - so keep praying that God gives them what they need to get through today and He may give them what they need to see the error of their ways.

Boallods · 26-30, M

@HootyTheNightOwl You misunderstood me. I'm not arguing against the virtue of forgiveness. Rather, I'm just wondering a) if I'm interpreting it right, and b) what are it's immediate effects.

If forgiving someone really would make him/her sin (at least in the short run), then I want to know that. I'm not questioning God's ways; I just want to know them better.