--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A Barna poll shows that for every…" description: "\"“A Barna poll shows that for every American who believes he or she is going to Hell, there are 120 who believe they’re going to Heaven.[4] Yet Christ s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90d/randy-alcorn-1180_going-hell_a-barna-poll-shows-that-for-every-americ_1695573.png" --- # A Barna poll shows that for every American who believes he… ![“A Barna poll shows that for every American who believes he or she is going to Hell, there are 120 who believe they’re going to Heaven.[4] Yet Christ said otherwise: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But…” quote by Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90d/randy-alcorn-1180_going-hell_a-barna-poll-shows-that-for-every-americ_1695573.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90d/randy-alcorn-1180_going-hell_a-barna-poll-shows-that-for-every-americ_1695573.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90d/randy-alcorn-1180_going-hell_a-barna-poll-shows-that-for-every-americ_1695573.png) > ““A Barna poll shows that for every American who believes he or she is going to Hell, there are 120 who believe they’re going to Heaven.\[4\] Yet Christ said otherwise: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).”” [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts popular belief that many are destined for Heaven with Jesus’ warning that the path to life is narrow and few find it. **In simple terms:** Many think they’ll go to Heaven, but Jesus says the way to life is hard and few follow it. Key Takeaway Recognize the difficulty of true discipleship. Themes faith eternity spirituality Mood cautious thoughtful Type biblical didactic When to use this quote - church teaching - personal reflection - evangelism - counseling Key Concepts Christian doctrine salvation human nature Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize comfort over truth? - How does this shape your view of salvation? A Different Perspective Some argue that cultural contexts change the interpretation of “narrow gate.” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [According to the men of the world, few are going to hell; According to the Bible, few are going to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/according-to-the-men-of-the-world-few-are-going-to-hell-according-to/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [There are a lot of good people going to Hell, and a lot of bad people like you and me going to Heaven!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/there-are-a-lot-of-good-people-going-to-hell-and-a-lot-of-bad-people/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [Those people who tell me that I'm going to hell while while they are going to heaven somehow make me very glad that we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-terman/those-people-who-tell-me-that-i-m-going-to-hell-while-while-they-are/) Martin Terman > [“Some people know they are going to heaven and those they do not like are going to hell. I am going where the Boss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-p-dinsmoor/some-people-know-they-are-going-to-heaven-and-those-they-do-not-like/) S.P. Dinsmoor > [I am not someone who believes I am going to find a historical scoop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-beevor/i-am-not-someone-who-believes-i-am-going-to-find-a-historical-scoop/) [Antony Beevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-beevor/) > [“She believes that going too far is wrong. Yet she's not trying to prove her point; she's just living it out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-thrasher/she-believes-that-going-too-far-is-wrong-yet-she-s-not-trying-to/) [Travis Thrasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-thrasher/) > [I am one of those people that believes that if I am going through something, somebody else out there among those billions of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-adams/i-am-one-of-those-people-that-believes-that-if-i-am-going-through/) [Yolanda Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-adams/) > [No reasonable American believes that someone can investigate their own boss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gaetz/no-reasonable-american-believes-that-someone-can-investigate-their/) [Matt Gaetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gaetz/) > [Whatever else an American believes or disbelieves about himself, he is absolutely sure he has a sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/whatever-else-an-american-believes-or-disbelieves-about-himself-he-is/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [The typical American believes that no necessity of the soul is free and that there are precious few, if any, which cannot be bought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/the-typical-american-believes-that-no-necessity-of-the-soul-is-free/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [I think every single American believes they have a right to clean air and clean water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-beinecke/i-think-every-single-american-believes-they-have-a-right-to-clean-air/) [Frances Beinecke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-beinecke/) > [“In God, the majority is not always right, enter through the narrow gate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-asumadu-sarkodie/in-god-the-majority-is-not-always-right-enter-through-the-narrow-gate/) [Samuel Asumadu-Sarkodie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-asumadu-sarkodie/) > [“Jesus, in Matthew's gospel, says, "How narrow is the gate that leads to life." Mistakenly, I think, we've come to believe that this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-boyle/jesus-in-matthew-s-gospel-says-how-narrow-is-the-gate-that-leads-to/) [Gregory Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-boyle/) > [“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-lockman-foundation/enter-through-the-narrow-gate-for-the-gate-is-wide-and-the-way-is/) [The Lockman Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-lockman-foundation/) > [The incorruptible things are all within the narrow gate. The peace of God which passed all understanding - the bright hope of good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-incorruptible-things-are-all-within-the-narrow-gate-the-peace-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Randy Alcorn > [“God is the highest good of the reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/god-is-the-highest-good-of-the-reasonable-creature-and-the-enjoyment/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [Jesus Himself was criticized. He wasn't a glutton and drunkard, but He was accused of being those things. Why? Because He went to parties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/jesus-himself-was-criticized-he-wasn-t-a-glutton-and-drunkard-but-he/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [The more you give, the more comes back to you, because God is the greatest giver in the universe, and He won't let you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/the-more-you-give-the-more-comes-back-to-you-because-god-is-the/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [If God was the owner, I was the manager. I needed to adopt a steward's mentality toward the assets He had entrusted - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/if-god-was-the-owner-i-was-the-manager-i-needed-to-adopt-a-steward-s/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.” —George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/the-vigor-of-our-spiritual-life-will-be-in-exact-proportion-to-the/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [There's a timeless truth behind the concept of giving God our firstfruits. Whether or not the tithe is still the minimal measure of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/there-s-a-timeless-truth-behind-the-concept-of-giving-god-our/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [Countless mistakes in marriage, parenting, ministry, and other relationships are failures to balance grace and truth. Sometimes we neglect both. Often we choose one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/countless-mistakes-in-marriage-parenting-ministry-and-other/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [Don't forget that the most effective form of child abuse is giving a child everything they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/don-t-forget-that-the-most-effective-form-of-child-abuse-is-giving-a/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“Even if materialism brought happiness in this life (which it certainly does not), it would leave us woefully unprepared for the next.   Materialism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/even-if-materialism-brought-happiness-in-this-life-which-it-certainly/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“When we become proud, we operate outside the grace God only gives to the humble. Humility preserves us; pride destroys us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/when-we-become-proud-we-operate-outside-the-grace-god-only-gives-to/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [I believe the only way to break the power of materialism is first, to see ourselves as stewards that God has entrusted these money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/i-believe-the-only-way-to-break-the-power-of-materialism-is-first-to/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“The most tragic strain in human existence lies in the fact that the pleasure which we find in the things of this life, however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/the-most-tragic-strain-in-human-existence-lies-in-the-fact-that-the/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [Give more as you make more. Remember: God prospers us not to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/give-more-as-you-make-more-remember-god-prospers-us-not-to-raise-our/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [If we can keep ourselves from interfering with the natural laws of life, mistakes can be our child's finest teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/if-we-can-keep-ourselves-from-interfering-with-the-natural-laws-of/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [Those who know their unworthiness seize grace as a hungry man seizes bread: the self-righteous resent grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/those-who-know-their-unworthiness-seize-grace-as-a-hungry-man-seizes/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) [Explore all 276 Randy Alcorn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) ## More Going Hell quotes > [If you're going through hell keep on going don't slow down if you're scared don't show it you might get out before the devil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-going-through-hell-keep-on-going-don-t-slow-down-if-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Because if Rob was going to hell, Gamelyn wasn't going to let him go alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tullos-hennig/because-if-rob-was-going-to-hell-gamelyn-wasn-t-going-to-let-him-go/) [J. Tullos Hennig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tullos-hennig/) > [“It is bad enough to be unconverted and going to hell. It is even worse to say, “I know it and will not cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle-2/it-is-bad-enough-to-be-unconverted-and-going-to-hell-it-is-even-worse/) [J.C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle-2/) > [If I had to lay bets, my bet would be that everything is going to go to hell, but, you know, what else have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/if-i-had-to-lay-bets-my-bet-would-be-that-everything-is-going-to-go/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [“The world is going to hell. All we can do is look good on the trip. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-world-is-going-to-hell-all-we-can-do-is-look-good-on-the-trip/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“If you are going through hell, keep going." ~Winston Churchill (Prologue Title quote)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-ann-walker/if-you-are-going-through-hell-keep-going-winston-churchill-prologue/) [Julie Ann Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-ann-walker/) > [I may be going to hell in a bucket, baby, but at least I'm enjoying the ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grateful-dead/i-may-be-going-to-hell-in-a-bucket-baby-but-at-least-i-m-enjoying-the/) [Grateful Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grateful-dead/) > [The fact is that, in prison, you can't just go and be locked up and serve your time. That's not an option. You get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/the-fact-is-that-in-prison-you-can-t-just-go-and-be-locked-up-and/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [There's a big mistake the left has made with talking to religious people, which is attempting to talk them out of their interpretations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/there-s-a-big-mistake-the-left-has-made-with-talking-to-religious/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [There's nothing wrong with being gay. I have plenty of friends who are going to hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-being-gay-i-have-plenty-of-friends-who-are/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Do the atheists in Wisconsin realize they're going to Hell? Did you ask them that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/do-the-atheists-in-wisconsin-realize-they-re-going-to-hell-did-you/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [I choose to ignore hell in my life. When I was a little kid I asked my Dad "Am I going to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/i-choose-to-ignore-hell-in-my-life-when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-asked-my/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [“Religion is for those individuals trying to avoid going to hell. Spirituality is for those of us who have been there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-methodish-church-bulletin/religion-is-for-those-individuals-trying-to-avoid-going-to-hell/) United Methodish Church bulletin > [“If anybody tells says you have to follow his or her #religion or you're going to hell, tell that silly ass to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fakeer-ishavardas/if-anybody-tells-says-you-have-to-follow-his-or-her-religion-or-you/) [Fakeer Ishavardas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fakeer-ishavardas/) > [When a person is going through hell, and she encounters someone who went through hellish hell and survived, then she can say, 'Mine is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/when-a-person-is-going-through-hell-and-she-encounters-someone-who/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) Browse all 157 Going Hell quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A Barna poll shows that for every American who believes he or she is going to Hell, there are 120 who believe they’re going to Heaven.[4] Yet Christ said otherwise: “Enter through the narrow gate. 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