A commonly cited estimate is around 45,000 Christian denominations worldwide.

When we consider this alongside Jesus’ words, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13–14), it serves as a sobering reminder that simply identifying with Christianity, belonging to a denomination, or participating in a religious tradition does not, by itself, guarantee that a person is walking a path that leads to genuine spiritual life and inner transformation.

This means to me that maybe following Christ, knowing God, or awakening to the Divine within has less to do with joining a particular denomination, theological system, or religious institution—all of which are external and many—and more to do with going within ourselves, coming to know God through direct inward experience, and not feeling obligated to conform ourselves completely to any single denomination, theological system, or religious institution (even though they can help point the way toward looking within ourselves when we take their deepest, esoteric meanings seriously). And so, for me, that inward journey of following Christ, knowing God, or awakening to the Divine within IS THE NARROW GATE.

When those of us who choose to go through the narrow gate begin walking this inward path, it often leads to rejection, misunderstanding, solitude, and the willingness to walk apart from the crowd—a path that can bring significant hardship, as it often requires standing apart from conventional expectations, letting go of the certainty that comes from belonging to a group, relinquishing the security of collective approval, enduring isolation and opposition, and choosing conscience over conformity. Yet despite all the hardship that going through this narrow gate can bring, it also leads to an abundant spiritual life and profound inner freedom and transformation.

This is because the pursuit of God is not always found in completely assimilating into one of the countless theological systems and denominations within Christianity, which are often the subjects of intense debate, defense, and division. Neither is it necessarily found where the majority gathers, where the greatest crowds assemble, where religious consensus is strongest, where institutional influence is greatest, where conformity is most rewarded, or where the most popular religious opinions prevail. Rather, the pursuit of God often requires the courage to remain faithful to one’s conscience and to continue seeking God with sincerity, even when that journey leads beyond familiar traditions, conventional religious thinking, or the approval of the surrounding religious culture.

Maybe that is why those of us who have gone inward in our pursuit of God have awakened to a deeper understanding of ourselves and of the Divine, have experienced profound spiritual transformation and psychological development, and have found an abundant source of spiritual life. It’s because, while many people devote much of their attention to fighting over whether their specific external form of religion is the correct one, or who belongs to the “right” religious camp, we have sought to cultivate an inward relationship with the Divine, and have allowed that direct inward encounter to continually transform our hearts, souls, and minds, without all the layers of institutional complexity, theological division, and outward affiliation becoming the primary focus of our spiritual lives.

And to be in this place is such a great place to be. This is because we have found that the deepest assurance comes not from belonging to the “right” religious camp among the buffet of Christian denominations and theological systems, but from continually knowing and experiencing God for ourselves by going through the narrow gate within, where we discover a sacred place at the core of our being that exists beyond the countless sectarian divisions that people have created within Christianity, which is likewise a place that exists beyond the many religious traditions of the world that have their own internal divisions, doctrines that are interpreted through different lenses, and traditions that vary from one community to another.