My 40-Year Friend Called Me "Evil". This is How I Responded...

When a longtime friendship ends over faith differences, how do you respond with love instead of defensiveness?In this deeply personal episode, Adam Hamilton tackles one of the most painful realities of our polarized world: what happens when the people closest to us see our beliefs as fundamentally wrong—or even evil. Through vulnerable storytelling and practical wisdom, Adam explores the messy humanity of biblical figures like Judas, while sharing his own heartbreaking experience of losing hundreds of church members and a 40-year friendship over his stance on LGBTQ inclusion. This isn't a typical religious podcast episode filled with easy answers—it's an honest conversation about the cost of conviction and the radical choice to love even when it hurts.Highlights:Did Jesus Know Judas Would Betray Him? Adam wrestles with the mystery of Jesus' humanity, questioning whether Christ knew from the beginning that his trusted disciple would sell him out for thirty pieces of silver, and what this means for our understanding of divine foreknowledge. The Three Days That Could Have Changed Everything What if Judas had waited just three more days before taking his own life? Adam paints a powerful picture of the forgiveness and redemption that might have been possible if Judas had encountered the risen Christ. When 800 People Leave Your Church Adam shares the devastating personal cost of preaching about inclusion in 2004, describing months of depression and the moment his wife asked the question that changed everything: "Is God calling you to leave, or are you running away?" Love Your Enemies—Even at Family Dinner Drawing from Dr. King's wisdom about wearing people down with love, Adam offers practical guidance for navigating relationships with family and friends who fundamentally disagree with your beliefs—without compromising your convictions. The Friend Who Walked Away In a raw moment of transparency, Adam recounts receiving a letter from a 40-year friend who called him and his church "evil" and "cancer" for their welcoming stance—and how choosing love over defensiveness became a powerful testimony.This episode doesn't offer neat, packaged solutions to the messy reality of human relationships. Instead, Adam invites us into the uncomfortable space where faith meets real life, where love costs something, and where the hardest commandment—to love our enemies—becomes not just a nice ideal but a daily choice. Whether you're struggling with family divisions, questioning your own beliefs, or simply trying to figure out how to love difficult people, this conversation will challenge you to see conflict through the lens of radical grace. It's a reminder that sometimes the most Christ-like response isn't to be right—it's to be loving, even when love feels like the hardest thing in the world.