Your problem is pride.  This is true for the religious and non-religious alike.  You won't get off your high horse and admit it, but it's still pride.  People may have an alternate explanation, but it's still pride.  Pride won't let you admit it.  Pride won't let you see it.  If you do see it, it's only because of a higher power.  Pride is the sole reason for hopelessness.  It's the beginning of sin, and the end of your life.

I direct this at myself.  I'm just saying "you" to get your attention.  This all applies to me as well.

Maybe you're not a Christian.  Maybe you've noticed that a few Christians like to say that Christianity isn't a religion because it's a way of life.  Those people are just trying to stand out as different, which is what the Bible says to do.  They are correct, but it's a generic (where "generic" is a noun meaning a consumer product having no brand name or registered trademark).

Standing out seems to be the mantra of Christianity, lately even more so.  Some artificial forms of standing out denies the power of God to really show what standing out means.  It paints a picture that only the outrageous can reach people.

I think regular day-to-day life is much more compelling.  The challenge is for Christians to have a normal life and be happy in it.

Regular lives can be a testament.  Normal families can salt the earth.  It's not necessary to stand out when standing out has lost it's meaning.  It's enough to say that if you want to stand out, be heterosexual, get married, and have kids.  Stay together.  Die old and married.  That would be downright bizarre!

This is a refreshing change, to be honest.  Christians have a new clean sociological slate to work with these days.  Just being happy and living day-to-day is enough to convince others that there's something to it.  I mean actually happy.  While all hell is literally breaking loose (and I know about hell breaking loose), we can keep our cool and still love one another.  How can this be?

The real truth is, I don't know.  Christ has the answer.  Does this sound like a cliché?  How many times have you heard that Christ has the answer to your problem?  How can he have the answer to your problem?

The answer is simple.  Your problem isn't all that new.  You may think it's new, but someone has gone through it already.  Your problem isn't unique.

The sad truth is, you are powerless to avoid pride.  That's really the point of Christianity.  Pride prevents you from understanding this.  Pride will kill you.

Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though they join forces, none will go unpunished.

- Proverbs 16:5

So obviously we must purge ourselves of pride, right?  No wait, pride will make you think you are strong enough to purge yourself of pride.  So then what must I do, you say?

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

- Acts 16:30-31

Don't focus on the house part.  That's there for context.  That's a whole different discussion.  The point is that you must believe.  So what is it to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?"  Another cliché, right?  Belief can manifest in the following ways:

• Loving God.
• Loving your neighbor.
• Spending time in His word.
• Spending time in prayer.
• Repeat until you die.

Each iteration will reveal your heart more and more.  But notice, it never ends.