It takes courage for anyone to come to Christ, deny all, take up your cross and follow Christ. Life is a spiritual battle with only two sides, choose ye this day whom you will serve. The choices are Jesus the Christ or Satan in all of his many disguises.
If one chooses Jesus, the world Will Not like you, and will be against you. Why are we surprised, the world hated Jesus first, it must hate us also. But be of good cheer for it is not us the world hates but Christ who lives in us and who we show a reflection of to the world.
This battle began in the garden and will end only when Christ comes again, gird up your loins and be ready to give an answer and to pay the cost.
It truly is a spiritual battle both on the individual skill and on the world scale. This reminds me of one of my favorite songs, Shield of Faith by Alison Krauss and her band.