A college student in Oklahoma received a failing grade after she quoted Scripture in a class assignment about gender.
We can see these days how people who share the true Word of God face backlash, while people who support evil things often receive open welcome.
We often see news of Christians getting arrested for praying in public, for sharing Scripture, and for sharing their faith-based opinions. But on the other hand, views that go against the Bible are often supported and encouraged.
In the face of opposition, there are still some godly people who stand firm in their faith and Scripture like Samantha Fulnecky.
Samantha Fulnecky is a junior at the University of Oklahoma. She’s studying psychology and preparing for medical school. She wants to become a pediatrician at a Native American hospital. Samantha is Comanche, and she has big dreams for her future.
In one of her psychology classes, Samantha wrote an opinion essay about gender. The assignment asked students to share their thoughts on an article they read. Samantha had been getting perfect grades on all her other assignments. This time, she got a zero.
The reason? She cited the Bible in her essay.
“I didn’t know that the TA was transgender or what his beliefs are or anything like that,” Samantha said. “I just did the assignments and turned them in and went about my day, so there hadn’t been any tension in the past until we were asked to do an assignment over this topic.”
The teaching assistant said Samantha didn’t provide scientific evidence for her views. But Samantha pointed out that the assignment was opinion-based. “I pointed out that it didn’t say anywhere I needed evidence, and his response was, no that was the grade you deserved,” she explained.
Here is what Samantha wrote in her essay:
Samantha Fulnecky Essay
“This article was very thought provoking and caused me to thoroughly evaluate the idea of gender and the role it plays in our society. The article discussed peers using teasing as a way to enforce gender norms. I do not necessarily see this as a problem. God made male and female and made us differently from each other on purpose and for a purpose. God is very intentional with what He makes, and I believe trying to change that would only do more harm.
Gender roles and tendencies should not be considered ‘stereotypes’. Women naturally want to do womanly things because God created us with those womanly desires in our hearts. The same goes for men. God created men in the image of His courage and strength, and He created women in the image of His beauty. He intentionally created women differently than men and we should live our lives with that in mind.
It is frustrating to me when I read articles like this and discussion posts from my classmates of so many people trying to conform to the same mundane opinion, so they do not step on people’s toes. I think that is a cowardly and insincere way to live. It is important to use the freedom of speech we have been given in this country, and I personally believe that eliminating gender in our society would be detrimental, as it pulls us farther from God’s original plan for humans.
It is perfectly normal for kids to follow gender ‘stereotypes’ because that is how God made us. The reason so many girls want to feel womanly and care for others in a motherly way is not because they feel pressured to fit into social norms. It is because God created and chose them to reflect His beauty and His compassion in that way.
In Genesis, God says that it is not good for man to be alone, so He created a helper for man (which is a woman). Many people assume the word ‘helper’ in this context to be condescending and offensive to women. However, the original word in Hebrew is ‘ezer kenegdo’ and that directly translates to ‘helper equal to’. Additionally, God describes Himself in the Bible using ‘ezer kenegdo’, or ‘helper’, and He describes His Holy Spirit as our Helper as well. This shows the importance God places on the role of the helper (women’s roles). God does not view women as less significant than men. He created us with such intentionally and care and He made women in his image of being a helper, and in the image of His beauty.
If leaning into that role means I am ‘following gender stereotypes’ then I am happy to be following a stereotype that aligns with the gifts and abilities God gave me as a woman. I do not think men and women are pressured to be more masculine or feminine. I strongly disagree with the idea from the article that encouraging acceptance of diverse gender expressions could improve students’ confidence. Society pushing the lie that there are multiple genders and everyone should be whatever they want to be is demonic and severely harms American youth. I do not want kids to be teased or bullied in school. However, pushing the lie that everyone has their own truth and everyone can do whatever they want and be whoever they want is not biblical whatsoever.
The Bible says that our lives are not our own but that our lives and bodies belong to the Lord for His glory. I live my life based on this truth and firmly believe that there would be less gender issues and insecurities in children if they were raised knowing that they do not belong to themselves, but they belong to the Lord. Overall, reading articles such as this one encourage me to one day raise my children knowing that they have a Heavenly Father who loves them and cherishes them deeply and that having their identity firmly rooted in who He is will give them the satisfaction and acceptance that the world can never provide for them.
My prayer for the world and specifically for American society and youth is that they would not believe the lies being spread from Satan that make them believe they are better off as another gender than what God made them. I pray that they feel God’s love and acceptance as who He originally created them to be.”
After Samantha received the zero, she reached out to university officials. She even contacted the governor’s office. The university agreed that the zero wouldn’t count toward her final grade. But they wouldn’t change the grade on the assignment itself.
The teaching assistant was placed on paid leave. The university said he won’t grade Samantha’s work anymore.
Samantha’s essay was posted on social media by a campus group. It has been viewed over 15 million times. The response has been mixed. Some people have praised her courage. Others have criticized her beliefs.
“A lot of people have taken things from the Bible and twisted it against me,” Samantha said. She’s received hateful messages online. Some people have even told her she’s going to hell.
But Samantha isn’t backing down. “My main goal is to encourage other Christians to stand up for their beliefs,” she said.
State Senator Shane Jett has taken up her cause. He’s demanding a meeting with the university president. “It’s about a state funded, taxpayer funded institution allowing their faculty members to abridge or impede a student’s right to express their faith,” Jett said.
The Oklahoma Freedom Caucus has also gotten involved. They want the university to apologize to Samantha publicly.
Samantha was invited to speak at the Oklahoma History Center. She shared her story alongside other state leaders.
Samantha wrote what she believed. She faced consequences. Yet she continues to trust God and encourage others to do the same. May we all have that kind of courage to stand firm on what we believe and live out our faith no matter what challenges we face.
WATCH: Christian Student Stands Firm After Getting Zero for Bible Citation
