Cancel Culture or Jump Culture Is It Evangelistic?

James W. Barber, D.Min. with Judy Branham

Nov. 6, 2025

Introduction

Where Are We Today?                                                     

November is a beautiful month in the fall season here in Oklahoma and is often associated with the falling leaves, cozy sweaters, and a lead up to the holiday season. As the leaves are changing and Thanksgiving and Christmas, as we say, is just around the corner, we start turning toward things with our family and close friends. All of the food that will be cooked and consumed, all of the presents that will be exchanged and all of the love that will be shared.

I am a supporter in any hypotheses related to culture. One prophetic minister described culture in this context, “culture is sometimes stronger than the anointing of God” which I have seen as I have traveled the world and have observed the way people look at God. The operation of their spiritual life is differently portrayed around the globe as people have their different viewpoints about the gospel, but there is a common denominator in every culture that is profound with all believers. There is no question that these various cultures say the Lord Jesus Christ is the only savior for mankind. He is the only entity and offering eternal salvation for our souls. (Acts 4:11-12)

American is in the midst all of these activities surrounding culture, but there is a formidable force that has been emerging as far back as time can document, with a strategy known as “Cancel Culture.” This form of deportment and yeah, even in the midst of a worldwide revival happening now, there’s talk of suppression that has become widespread, even extending to the level of government, churches and educational institutions. Our society has continued to see their children pass through the fire, (Ezek. 20:31) which we call abortion—an intentional and often morally corrupt act of removing a life, a potential, and individual opportunities from the world. Additionally, the rise of homosexual culture is also on the rise, serving as a reminder of the events foretold by Jesus in the last days (Luke 17:20) & (Jude 7).

In fact, since dismay can only beget dismay, “Cancel Culture” is probably an unavoidable side effect in a culture that has embraced the world’s philosophy. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1John 2:15)). Satan has always pushed this agenda of destruction into all societal norms. (John 10:10). In various religious environments, including some denominations and churches, he has come with an agenda of gender bigotry, tyranny, racism, elitism, and all forms of cultic ideologies. This agenda can only be overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit and the name of Jesus Christ. (John 16:8).

Even with all the breadth of our modern technological advances and social media platforms, our American society seems to be getting more and more narrow minded, closed minded, and wrong minded—even in the churches with our Spirit filled philosophies, theologies, and practices. (And, of course, the churches have been “stuck” on pet doctrines for ages!)

God has been working also behind the scenes since antiquity past and in this hour nurturing this phenomenon that I have coined as “Jump Culture.” I consider it an evangelistic practice which involves moving out of our little religious comfort zones to follow God’s Holy Spirit lead to bring the Savior's message to the world, to find and save that one person, and convict others who He is also preparing to receive the ultimate salvation reality with which the Church was called to deliver. This can only be accomplished by, obeying the commandments that Jesus gave to his disciples in Matthew 28 and Mark 16. If you are truly saved, then you are a disciple of Jesus Christ.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18–20)

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So, then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.” (Mark 16:15–20).

In our society, in the past and today we have increasingly defined ourselves by our skin color, our gender, our age-group, our doctrines, our preferences, and our politics. These can be true spiritual elements that we should embrace and consider as true elements of unity, but we seem to be drifting from this ideal, not further apart, but in a divergent unity that must be recognized by all in a way that I have coined as a “Jump Culture” phenomenon that will present two choices in these last days.

I love the way one Christian evangelist, Greg Laurie described it, using his right and left hand, “You either get it get right with Jesus or you get left behind without him.” On the right hand, you become a disciple, a loyal learning follower of Jesus Christ. On the left hand you step across a line that is being drawn in the sand that will affect your eternity. Most people don’t think about eternity while they are alive. I’ve seen people die without Jesus being Lord of their lives. It is not a pretty sight.

The recent assassination of the leader of “Turning Point USA” Charlie Kirk, was one of the attempts by the enemy to destroy the future of what we see as the “Jump Culture” phenomenon. Kirk poured his life into building a movement rooted in faith, freedom, and love of country. What his death actually did was catapult the revival to a worldwide success. He believed America’s future depended on raising up a generation who would “Never Surrender.” Revival prayers are rising, support is pouring in, millions of students are rallying, volunteers are flooding in, and vigils are filling churches and schools across the nation. The fire Charlie lit is burning brighter than ever. (https://tpusa.com/)

The theory of “Jump Culture” would support Kirk’s movement and the revival that is occurring as a result. It is one of God’s great remedies for the disturbing trends in our society. I believe that today, the idea is beginning to capture the young men and women of the world. It’s not just local, it’s not just your city, it’s not just your nation, it is the whole world. This is “Jump Culture” and in a way involves moving out of our little church security zones to take God’s well-being to others as the ultimate evangelistic reality. The Church must remain engaged in its combat against Satan who is fighting the concept of a spiritual cultural jump like never before. Like Kirk, you don’t have to beat people with Jesus' rhetoric in our messages, you just need to live, love and be like Jesus as the only way that exists and gives us life.

Prior to the construction of the tower of Babel, the Father God wanted men to repopulate the Earth. “Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen 9:1) and the primary scheme that was the ploy of the enemy was to “Cancel Culture” from God’s original purpose. The enemy wanted to be like God, so the way to do that was and still is to have individuals see themselves as something greater than what God intended by building a tower to be where God was. The essence of the story is that they would never be able to reach to the heavens, but God saw their drive to be in opposition to the commandment he gave to men to quit looking at themselves as co-equals to Him and repopulate the world.

“Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”” (Gen. 11:4)

“And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.” (Gen. 11:6) 

Author and minister John Burton weighs in on the “Cancel Culture,” phenomenon.

“As the end continues to draw nearer, those who [wish] to exterminate (cancel) those they disagree with (Jump Culture) will do so regardless of evidence of guilt. If they don't like the way we tie our shoes, it will be enough to validate an overt mission of destruction, at least in the mob's eyes. The spirit behind deadly riots and cancel culture is the same. Riots are physical, visible, violent, and fueled by rage against any, and all who oppose their advance through city streets. “Cancel Culture” is invisible, psychological, sociological yet also fueled by white-hot rage against those they hate. Reformation is needed before the fabric of our nation is shredded beyond repair.”[1] 

It would be hard pressed to find another nation with such a righteous foundation as we see in the American spiritual milieu—which has resulted in such a great land—and opportunity does not exist elsewhere on the level experienced in this nation. The words of our 16^th President in 1863 are appropriate, and now on a much greater scale:

“We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation ever has grown; but we have forgotten God! We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.”[2] 

Ingratitude is the natural result of “Cancel Culture,” at its core, is a complete elimination and negation of gratitude. “Just as gratitude is the queen of virtues, ingratitude is the king of the vices…. We believe the universe owes us a living. We do not want to be beholden. Losing sight of protection, favors, benefits and blessings renders a person spiritually and morally bankrupt.”[3]

What Are We To Do Today?

God’s servant Oral Roberts, the founder of Oral Roberts University, in my opinion, received “Jump Cultures.” personalized instructions in the form of a mandate when he heard God say in the incipient stages of developing the university:

Build Me a university. Build it on my authority and the Holy Spirit. Raise up your students to hear My voice, to go where My light is dim, where My voice is heard small, and My healing power is not known, even to the uttermost bounds of the earth. Their work will exceed yours, and in this I am well pleased.

Roberts’ remarkable response was just the beginning of what became one of the premier educational institutions in the United States and the world. ORU graduates are still some of the most sought-after men and women in any workforce. Students represent all 50 states. Since 1965, ORU students have come from more than 150 countries at the writing of this blog. From the last estimate in 2024, ORU has more than 25,000 graduates worldwide and a total alumni population over 40,000.  To meet the challenge of carrying redemption, holiness, and healing to those places where "God's light is dim, where His voice is heard small, and where His healing power is not known," we must be prepared to “Jump Cultures.”

In a greater sense, the term “Jump Culture” means to go into every person’s societal order, and Roberts’ vision of “going into every man’s world” certainly leads the way in this. As a M.Div. and D.Min. graduate of ORU, my ministry has been personally bound in the footprints of his vision. My pastor, Dr. Nancy Cook, of Tulsa Christian Center ministries, was a student in one of my classes and said one day;

"Dr. Barber you need to come and help us with the homeless in Tulsa at the shelters downtown. It is no different than going overseas and helping those in need that you've talked about."

I have been working with Dr. Cook in “Jump Culture” efforts with the homeless and those in need in the Tulsa area for over 15 years. I even served on the board of the John 3:16 Mission for 10 years. Having extensively taught students from 150 nations, that I call (ethnos infiltration) at ORU has, in an educational context, helped me to see that I am teaching in and to many countries worldwide. In essence, I have developed a “Jump Culture Attitude” of responding to Roberts’ vision of going into every man’s world influencing “every individual” to maybe convince them to find to Jesus and maybe some of them to find their way to Tulsa, OK, to maybe find themselves "Jump Culture” at Oral Roberts University.

Questions For Reflection:

1. Did you experience any (“Culture Jump”) philosophies or processes growing up in your family, in your education, in your church or in any spirit lead environment?

2. Explain how you came to understand the different cultures in your life, and what have you done or plan to do to become involved with others, not like yourself?

3. The church is called to make disciple all individuals (ethnos infiltration), Matthew 28 and Mark 16. Do you see yourself reaching to know a culture outside of your physical, spiritual and/or religious setting?

4. What ways is your church, your ministry, or other discipleship processes assisting you developing ways to jump culture as a mandate from Mathew 28 and March 16?

[1]John Burton, Why America Needs Cancel Culture Reform to Survive 1:00PM EDT 3/26/2021 Charisma online. Accessed 4-12-21.

[2] Robert Emmons, Greater Good Magazine, NOVEMBER 12, 2013 “What Gets in the Way of Gratitude?” https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_stops_gratitude 

Accessed 3-25-21

[3] Ibid.

*All Bible references are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted.