Was it wrong to whisper a racial slur on a bet?

Last updated on March 10, 2022

Question:

This happened a while ago. This kid told me that if I whispered a racial slur in someone’s ear, he would pay me $32. So me not thinking, I did, in fact, do that. Does that constitute sin, if I didn’t know it was wrong to my knowledge? Also, in general, does using words like this abuse our language privileges, and is that what makes this sin?

Answer:

“Racial slurs” is a form of insulting another person. It is hateful speech designed to make another person feel bad about themselves. Worse, it is malicious words about something a person has no control over. You cannot control your ethnic origins. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31).

I accept that you weren’t thinking before acting. Most young men have a hard time thinking about the consequences of what they do in advance. However, I believe you did know it was wrong, even if you didn’t know why it was wrong. You are not going to find people offering money to you to whisper nice things into someone’s ear.

Like all other sins, apologize to God for getting involved in it and strive not to repeat your sin.