One of my greatest annoyances while having discussions with Christians is the fan fiction that they write to cope with the sin which they carry about in own lives. This comes in many varieties, intensities and forms; from the "backstory" of the thief to ridiculous theories about Jesus's wives or his abundance of wealth.
Recently, I talked to a man who told me that Jesus was the greatest carpenter that has ever lived, that he was very rich and gave it all away. Yes, noble enough, I suppose. But utter fabrication. This false Christ is a cope. This man once contemplated becoming a monk but is now a business owner. He has created this Jesus to justify certain aspects of his life.
The first step toward conquering men is conquering self. Contemplate yourself. Understand your copes. Understand where you are wrong, and modify your rationalizations to fall in line with Christ. If you fight for money, you must do this for Christendom. Love your neighbor even as you love yourself. When you achieve your little victories, ask yourself how these things improve your family and your people. This is where you will find Christ.