Florida Professor Forces Students To Stomp On Jesus’ Name

In yet another disturbing sign of the rising tide of hostility towards Biblical Christianity, a professor at Florida Atlantic University made his class write the name of Jesus on a piece of paper, place it on the floor and stomp on it as part of a required class assignment. The one student who refused was then suspended.

Professor Deandre Poole was teaching the students a “lesson in debate” when he gave the mandatory assignment to blaspheme the name of The Lord Jesus Christ as part of his Intercultural Communications class.  The activity was actually a formal part of the curriculum for the class as an entire lesson was devoted to desecrating the name of Jesus Christ in the course’s textbook:

“Stamping on Jesus’ name is actually an entire lesson which is included in the textbook for the class, called “Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach, 5th Edition.”

“Have the students write the name JESUS in big letters on a piece of paper,” a synopsis for the lesson reads:

“Ask the students to stand up and put the paper on the floor in front of them with the name facing up. Ask the students to think about it for a moment. After a brief period of silence instruct them to step on the paper. Most will hesitate. Ask why they can’t step on the paper. Discuss the importance of symbols in culture.” (source).

The name of Jesus Christ in the Christian faith is not just revered it is the only way to forgiveness of sins and eternal life. We read in the Book of Acts: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

When the Apostle Paul was told a prophecy that he would be arrested if continued on his journey to Jerusalem, he replied: “.. What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13).

Ephesians Chapter 1 says that Jesus Christ is: “ Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:”

Calling upon the name of Jesus Christ is the only way to avoid damnation and the Lake of Fire. Requiring students to desecrate the name of Christ in this fashion is teaching sinful rebellion and hatred for God.

The Rise of Wickedness

The Bible prophesies that as the end times approach, the wickedness and open hostility to God and anything related to Biblical Christianity will only increase. It is because of sin that people are at such odds with God from birth. Scripture says “the carnal mind is enmity against God” (Romans 8:7). Unsaved people, who are not believers, are literally at war with The Lord because of the sin nature which all people are born with. And the more rebellion, idolatry and sinful behavior in a person’s life, the more liable they are to have their “conscience seared with a hot iron” to not care remotely about their eternal destiny or judgment from The Lord. Romans 1 describes how when this happens, the last big of Godly influence (in the human conscience) is removed and a person can fall into all manner of sin:

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. – Romans 1:28-32.

Even though this is obviously offensive, blasphemous behavior to the Christian religion, the school still saw it fit to require students to participate in this. And when questioned by the media, the University defended the professor’s lesson in a statement issued to the press:

“Faculty and students at academic institutions pursue knowledge and engage in open discourse,” the school said in the statement. “While at times the topics discussed may be sensitive, a university environment is a venue for such dialogue and debate.” (source).

Having a debate about religion or the validity of the Bible is a normal academic discussion. Dividing a classroom to present arguments about Biblical creation against evolution is a normal educational activity. Instructing students to “stomp on the name of Jesus” is not fostering intellectual debate. It’s just promoting anti-Christian sentiment and disrespecting all of those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior.

Preparation For The Antichrist

During the end times, the Devil will have his long-awaited “seed”, the Antichrist, ascend to power and rule over a global dictatorship in the final years before the Second Coming of Christ. One distinctive characteristic of the Antichrist is that he will be an extreme blasphemer of The Lord:

“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.” – Revelation 13:5-6.

The Antichrist will openly insult and commit blasphemy against God. And this is the same man that most of the entire world will not only be in awe of, but will worship as a God. So the preparation of the minds of society will have to be in place. And as Beginning and End has detailed in many articles, through the mass media, pop culture and now the educational system, society is being taught that it is acceptable and entertaining to disrespect The Lord, Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. Open blasphemy and hostility to Biblical Christianity is becoming the norm. And thus one can see how society will not even be the least bit disturbed by the Antichrist’s disrespect of God and proclamation of himself as god. The bible is clear that the spirit of antichrist is already at work in the world.

A Student Is Punished For Refusing To Commit Blasphemy

“..Junior Ryan Rotela said he has been barred from returning to his intercultural communications class after complaining about an exercise assigned by his professor, Deandre Poole, three weeks ago.

“I said to the professor, ‘With all due respect to your authority as a professor, I just do not believe what you told us to do was appropriate, I believe it was unprofessional, and I was deeply offended by what you told me to do.’” Rotela told WPEC-TV.

Rotela, who identifies himself as a Mormon, said that he put the paper back on his desk instead of stomping on it.

“Any time you stomp on something, it shows that you believe that something has no value,” he said. “If you were to stomp on the word ‘Jesus,’ it says that the word has no value.” (source).

Although the Mormon faith is not in line with Biblical Christianity, at least one person was willing to stand up for what was a clear offense to the name of Christ. The Liberty Institute, a law firm that protects religious freedoms of Christians, has offered their services to Rotela in the event he chooses to pursue legal action.

Pray for Professor Poole and the administration at Florida Atlantic to repent and start believing on the name of Jesus Christ. And pray for students in Universities all over the country that are seeking to plant doubts in their faith and even compel them to rebel against God. May they have the courage and conviction to contend for the faith once given to the saints. And rather than insult the name of Jesus, let His name be praised. The Bible is clear:

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:10-11.

Everyone should bow now. Even for those unsaved people who have been attacking Jesus Christ and disrespecting His Holy name for years, there is free forgiveness and eternal life waiting if they believe the Gospel. Jesus Christ gave His life to take the punishment for all of these sins. He died for those who cursed, mocked and abused Him. But without faith in Christ’s perfect sacrifice, those same people will die condemned and guilty of their sins. Pray for those who blaspheme to repent and believe upon Jesus’ name before they have no choice but to bow on Judgment Day.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. – John 3:17-18.