Because American perspectives are widely secular and often push the boundaries of profanity, holiness can be a difficult concept for us to grasp. What IS holiness? Holi-ness is the sum total of God’s otherworldly character: His perfections, His morality, His justice, His jealousy, His wrath, His compassion, His timelessness, His glory, and His all-encompassing power and knowledge. God’s holiness is both terrifying and reassuring.

We make objects, places, times, actions, and persons holy when we do two things: separate them from the profane and unite them with God instead. For example, God told the Israelites to eat a kosher diet so that they would constantly be reminded of who they are as a people of God every time they eat a meal.