In this episode of the Faith, Hope, and Love Podcast, host Michael Whitehouse delves into the nuanced art of evangelism, discussing effective and ineffective methods of sharing the Christian faith. Inspired by a meme and subsequent Facebook discussion, Michael explores how Jesus taught us to spread His message through love and genuine actions rather than overt displays of religiosity.

Michael challenges the common approach of public declarations about attending church and emphasizes the importance of living out one's faith in a way that naturally draws others to Christ. He offers a deep dive into the teachings of Jesus on how to evangelize with love, humility, and authenticity, using key scripture passages to illustrate his points.

John 13:34-35 (NIV):

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Matthew 6:5 (NIV):

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."

Matthew 23:27-28 (NIV):

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

• The ineffective nature of merely announcing church attendance as a form of evangelism.
• The importance of understanding your audience when sharing your faith.
• The distinction between reaching out to Christians, those unfamiliar with Christianity, and those who have had negative experiences with the church.
• The metaphor of event management to explain the negative experiences some people have with church.
• Encouragement to live out Jesus' teachings through love, service, and genuine kindness.
• The role of humility and the avoidance of performative religiosity in true evangelism.
• Practical advice on how to show Christ’s love in everyday actions without being judgmental or hypocritical.

Tune in to learn how to embody the essence of Christian love and share the good news in a way that genuinely resonates with and attracts others.

In this episode of the Faith, Hope, and Love Podcast, host Michael Whitehouse dives into the controversial topic of posting the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. Recently, Louisiana passed a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all schools, sparking debate among both Christians and non-Christians. Michael argues that this action does not align with the teachings of Christ and examines why Christians should oppose such mandates.

Drawing from various scriptures, Michael highlights that the Ten Commandments are not the ultimate law of Christianity. Instead, Jesus emphasized the greatest commandments: to love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). He explores the idea that imposing religious rules in public spaces can lead to resentment and misunderstanding, rather than fostering genuine faith.

• The distinction between the Ten Commandments and Jesus' Greatest Commandments.
• Why performative religion, such as mandating religious texts in schools, does not serve true Christian values.
• How Jesus instructed His followers to spread the Gospel through love and example, not through imposing laws (Mark 16:15, John 13:34-35, Matthew 5:16).
• The importance of voluntary faith and the principle of separating church and state (Matthew 22:21).
• A discussion on universal ethical principles found in major religions, which could serve as a more inclusive and meaningful set of guidelines for public spaces.

Michael passionately explains that faith should be shown through actions and love, not by forcing religious laws upon others. He calls for Christians to reflect on Jesus' true teachings and to spread His message through genuine, heartfelt actions.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of why mandating the Ten Commandments in schools may not be the best approach to promoting Christian values and learn how to live out your faith in a way that truly honors Christ's teachings.

The following 15 principles are common to every major religion in the world.

Respect for Life: Honor and protect all living beings. Avoid harming or taking the life of others.

Honesty and Integrity: Speak truthfully and sincerely. Avoid deceit, lying, and falsehood.

Respect for Property: Respect others' property and belongings. Do not steal or take what is not given.

Sexual Ethics: Conduct oneself with sexual integrity and respect. Avoid actions that cause harm or exploitation.

Compassion and Kindness: Show kindness and compassion to all. Treat others with empathy and care.

Justice and Fairness: Act with fairness and justice in all dealings. Stand against oppression and injustice.

Respect for Others: Honor and respect parents, elders, and those in positions of authority. Treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Self-Control and Discipline: Exercise self-control and discipline in personal behavior. Avoid actions that lead to excess and harm.

Charity and Generosity: Be charitable and generous. Support those in need and contribute to the well-being of the community.

Environmental Stewardship: Respect and care for the natural world. Avoid actions that cause unnecessary harm to the environment.

Peace and Non-Violence: Promote peace and resolve conflicts non-violently. Avoid actions that lead to violence and discord.

Humility and Modesty: Act with humility and avoid arrogance. Recognize the value and contributions of others.

Gratitude and Contentment: Practice gratitude for what you have and cultivate contentment. Avoid greed and envy.

Accountability and Responsibility: Take...

Every 45 seconds, an LGBTQ youth between the ages of 13 and 24 attempts suicide in the United States, according to the Trevor Project. These are our children—precious, beloved children. Yet more than one child every minute feels so hated, so despicable, so imperfectly made that they see no option but to end their own lives.

This isn’t just a theological debate—it’s a matter of life and death. By the time you finish reading this, several children will have attempted suicide because of the culture we’ve created. This is why this conversation matters. As Christians, it’s our responsibility to act with love and compassion, not condemnation and exclusion.

This isn’t about “the gay agenda” or a cultural war—it’s about doing God’s will. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors, and yet the church has become a barrier for many people seeking God. We are literally standing in the way of God’s love for those who need it most.

During this discussion, I’ll address four key points:

1. Christians should not judge non-Christians.
2. The biblical case against homosexuality is weak and often misinterpreted.
3. The pain caused by condemnation is real and contrary to Christ’s teachings.
4. If I were Satan, I would use homophobia to divide the church and keep people away from God.

Let’s explore these points in depth.

Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13: “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside.”

Paul is explicit: Christians have no moral jurisdiction over non-Christians. Civil marriage is a civil institution, not a religious one. Yet, many Christians advocate for laws that impose their beliefs on others. This directly contradicts Paul’s teachings and ignores Jesus’ command to love our neighbors.

Neighbors, in the context of Matthew 22:39, include everyone, not just fellow believers. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you wouldn’t want your right to marry the person you love restricted, why would you deny that right to someone else? Loving your neighbor means treating them with the same dignity and respect you would want for yourself.

The traditional arguments against homosexuality rely on a handful of passages: the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, Levitical laws, and references in the letters of Paul. Let’s examine these more closely.

The Sin of Sodom

Genesis 19 describes the men of Sodom demanding to sexually assault two angelic visitors. Many interpret this as a condemnation of homosexuality, but Ezekiel 16:49-50 provides a different perspective: “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me.”

The sins of Sodom are explicitly listed: arrogance, greed, neglect of the poor, and inhospitality. The attempted assault in Genesis 19 is about violence and dominance, not consensual relationships. This is not a story about loving same-sex couples—it’s a story about a city’s wickedness.

Levitical Laws

Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 label same-sex relations as “detestable.” However, these laws are part of a larger purity code that includes prohibitions against eating pork, wearing mixed fabrics, and planting multiple crops in the same field. Christians have long abandoned many of these laws as culturally specific and irrelevant today.

Even the word “detestable” (to’eva in...