Holy Is a Four-Letter Word: How to Live a Holy Life in an Unholy World

Holy Is a Four-Letter Word responds to the need for an accessible and simple articulation of the holy life and what it means for the collective church as well as for individual believers. This goal is accomplished by taking the fundamental tenants of holiness doctrine and shaping them around twelve four-letter words: (1) Holy (2) Self (3) Full (4) Pure (5) Will (6) Mind (7) Body (8) Love (9) Rest (10) Life (11) Sent and (12) Call. Each chapter deals with holy living according to scripture as it pertains to each four-letter word. Setting the concept of holiness against the backdrop of modern (and often profane) media culture accomplishes two objectives: (1) it reveals the relevance and urgency of holy living amongst a super-charged secular media culture and (2) defining holy living first and foremost by what it is not thereby accentuating holy as being set a part for the purposes of God. The clear command for holiness conveyed through the Bible is demanding and intimidating but it is also a command with great promise. In Holy Is a Four-Letter Word we are shown how this command has daily application in essentially every area of life. And we rejoice in the promise as we understand that holiness is not about our accomplishment but rather what God will accomplish in us as we draw near to him. --David Long Vice President of Theological Education One Mission Society Charles C. Lake presently serves as Executive Director of Growth Ministries and Consultant for Discipleship for the Salvation Army Southern Territory. Matthew I. Ayars is the President of Emmaus Biblical Seminar of Haiti.