Since I came to Christ 40 years ago, I've noticed something that's increasingly sad to me. It's what I call the Christian attitude. If you look in the Bible at Christians, you find most are filled with joy, overflowing, and love for everyone. Those who are recorded as even dying for Christ, did so as though it were an honor, with anticipation of getting to be with God. Paul, when he spoke to those who did not agree with his beliefs, did so as an ambassador, in a way that respected them and invited respect for Christ. This is the opposite of what I see in the Christian attitude today.
Most of us carry ourselves in attitudes of defeatism, defensiveness, and sadness. Lift up your heads, for the day of the Lord is near! The joy of the Lord is our strength! When Christianity was started, 2000 years ago, almost no one in the World professed to believe, all religions were against us...some were killing us, all governments who knew about us were against us. Rome...where it all started...was slaughtering us, imprisoning us...even feeding us to lions for entertainment. Yes, in some places of the World, persecution is as horrible as it was then. But, do you know what those Christians in Rome did when they were fed to lions? They died so well that many who were watching were led to Jesus.
If we truly believe God exists and, through the power of Jesus, lives in us and will have us with Him for eternity, what can man do to us? Even death will not separate us from the love of Christ. If you don't believe these things, you need to learn that Christianity isn't a building you attend weekly, a religious practice or a political position. It's the most powerful being in all eternity loving, living in, and living through you. If that doesn't raise your attitude and fill you with joy and glory, you'd better see what it is you do believe.