Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him

by Jackie Hill Perry, Charlie Dates (Foreword)

Why is it so hard to trust God sometimes?
 
We say we trust Him with our mouths, but often not with our lives. We live like God can’t be trusted. Like He doesn't actually want what is best for us. Like He is just another person who, as Eve assumed in the Garden all those years ago, might hold out on us.
 
Bestselling author Jackie Hill Perry, in her much anticipated follow-up to Gay Girl, Good God, helps us find the reason we don’t trust God—we misunderstand His holiness.
 
In Holier Than Thou, Jackie walks us through Scripture, shaking the dust off of “holy” as we’ve come to know it and revealing it for what it really is. In these pages, we will see that God is not like us. He is different. He is holy. And that’s exactly what makes Him trustworthy. As it turns out, God being “holier than thou” is actually the best news in the world, and it’s the key to trusting Him.
 

Genres: Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Christian Non Fiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2021

About the author

Jackie Hill Perry is an author, poet, bible teacher, and hip-hop artist whose latest album, Crescendo, was released in May 2018.

Since becoming a Christian, she has been compelled to use her speaking and teaching gifts to share the light of the gospel of God as authentically as she can.

She is the author of Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been and the bible study Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today’s Culture”.

At home she is a wife to Preston and Mommy to 4 beautiful children.

Reviews

[Annie Riggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 because it’s trustworthy). It’s hard to review a book as unsatisfying, written by someone whose ministry I support and admire. I’d say the book is a charge to reverence, and a faith-filled reflection on many aspects of holiness. But as a reader I was bored, and as a learner I was frustrated.

To me, the text felt choppy and unfocused — and that’s not because it is too poetic or literary as I have heard Perry say! I’d rather hear Perry speak on this topic.

I struggled to concentrate because it meandered through many topics under the enormous umbrella of God’s holiness. Being under 200 pages, the content necessarily became a basic primer on all-things-related-to-holiness — leaving me antsy to finish it and move on.

Since this is the venue for my opinion, I’d go further to say the book would be improved if it kept a narrower focus on its thesis and subtitle: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him. I’m not sure I could answer that better after reading a book about it.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26

As believers, this quote from Asaph is our aspiration. As we Behold God through His word and creation, we Believe, and then we Become like what we Behold. But how do we make that transition from just viewing to actually believing? With her signature JHP style and lyrical prose, Jackie Hill Perry lays out a case for starting with God's Holiness. This book is full of pithy bits from her pen and is one that could be read multiple times to mine the riches inside. Here is one example:

If God can't sin, then He can't sin against you. If He can't sin against you, shouldn't that make Him the most trustworthy being there is?

Until now I would have recommended just R.C. Sproul's The Holiness of God to those who desire to know God better. From now on, this title will also be at the top of my recommendation list on this topic.

We know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. I John 3:2

[Ana Avila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este fue un libro difícil de «estrellar». Me debatí entre las cuatro y tres estrellas. Ojalá pudiera dar 3.5.

La traducción no fluye como me gustaría. Esto no es de extrañar, pues Jackie es poeta. ¡Capturar su prosa en otro idioma será siempre un trabajo extraordinariamente complicado!

La tesis es fantástica: «Si Dios es santo, entonces no puede pecar. Si Dios no puede pecar, no puede pecar contra mí. Si no puede pecar contra mí. Si no puede pecar contra mí, ¿eso no lo transformaría acaso en el ser más confiable que existe?». Me hubiera encantado que la tesis hubiera permanecido central a lo largo de todo el libro. Creo que se perdió un poco en la segunda mitad.

—

Las estrellas dejan mucho qué desear a la hora de evaluar un libro. La manera en que tú interpretas 1, 2, 3, 4 o 5 estrellas probablemente será muy distinta a la manera en que yo interpreto 1, 2, 3, 4 o 5 estrellas.

Aquí va la «traducción» del sistema de estrellas de Ana al español:

⭐️ - Malo
⭐️ ⭐️ - Me costó terminar
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - Bueno
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - Muy bueno
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - Me cambió la vida / No pude soltarlo

Para saber más sobre cómo doy estrellas, puedes escuchar este episodio de mi podcast.

[Sarah Fowler Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took too long to review this because I had to sip slowly from the richness of this beautiful truth.

I'm not going to lie: I went into this a little 'meh'. I've read several books about the holiness of God and sure, JHP is always good but... you know. No. I was wrong. This book is needed. It's 100% scripture and even quotes from those other books/theologians I've read and yet is fresh, poignant, and gut-wrenching in Perry's beautiful wordsmithing. It's just glorious.

I think I highlighted half the book. Succinct and yet piling image upon image Perry makes sure we GET it. Being full of the Bread of Life means we have no room for idols, including those not-God gods of our own wishful thinking.

"One goal of this work you're holding is to prove that 'if' doesn't belong in front of 'God is holy.' Since He is, ... He can and will be trusted." "[T]he foundation of our idolatry, the sin begetting all others, is a specific belief about God. Our perverse sexual ethics, wild tongue, religious superiority, dark thoughts, legalistic posture, mean ways, impatient moods, greedy antics, intellectual arrogance, and rebellious tendencies come out of what we believe about the living God."

In short, it matters. And we can never be reminded enough of who God is and what that means for us. Hallelujah.

{I was provided an ARC to review by B&H Publishing Group through NetGalley}

[Makenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have been shocked if I didn't like this book. Love JHP. She never calls me her friend or asks me to pretend we're talking to each other over a cup of coffee, which is honestly a miracle in the Christian book realm.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holier than Thou by Jackie Hill Perry

We know that God is good, and we know he is loving. But when was the last time you really considered his holiness?

In Holier than Thou, Jackie Hill Perry helps us consider and rejoice over the holiness of God. Because it is his holiness—his being “other” than us, his perfect moral purity, his inability to do or be something other than good—that makes him able to be trusted at all times.

Holy Justice was my favorite chapter. A notable quote:

In an attempt to justify their belief that God isn’t antagonistic toward sin, there are those that will say, “God is love.” They most likely don’t realize it but what they’re ultimately claiming is that God is unjust.

Jackie’s voice comes through on the page in her dynamic style, but I suspect this would be even better on audio.

Releases in two weeks, 8/17 from @bhpub. Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for the advanced review copy.

[Rachel B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I love that this book really is all about God; it's not fluffy. There is a ton of Truth here that reminds Christians of Who God is; I also think it could be helpful for those nonbelievers who want to understand why we Christians believe what we do.

Perry's writing style is more flowery than I like, personally. I also think the book is a tad long for the content. The second half was repetitive and more of a slog for me to get through.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.

[LA · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for my girl jhp. I always thought of God’s holiness foremost as defining him as set apart & different than me to the utmost degree, but this book through scripture has put a lot more richness & truth into my definition of “holy”. This in turn has informed my thoughts on what it means to “Be holy, as I am holy.” & finally to long for the day when “we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is”. Can’t summarize the book, but 10/10 recommend you to read it

[Abbie Rains · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean this book truly changed how I view God in the best way!! It can’t just be a friendship and God isn’t just an elevated version of us as humans- he deserves reverence because of his holiness!!

[ansbaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book actually changed my life. I spent a lot of time reading different books and passages of the Bible trying to understand the character of God, but it never fully clicked in my mind until I grasped His holiness. This book is beautifully written and easy to understand. Phenomenal read! I HIGHLY recommend

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I’m just gonna listen to this on repeat bc it’s only 4hrs long and I want it to really sink in. I love that JHP narrates it, she’s amazing!! Highly Recommend!!

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phewwwwww Jackie’s just spitting BARS here. Gosh. Holiness and trust are themes I have wrestled with significantly over the course of this year. It is easy to despair in this world of brokenness and sin—easy to wonder what the following and trying and obeying is all for. Reading this audiobook (in Jackie’s own voice no less), was like throwing ice cold water on one’s face: painful, challenging, but good, awakening. Shoutout to such modern-day prophets who refuse to let us forget just how powerful and good and worthy of our affection God is.

[Amber Thiessen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie Hill Perry has a new book coming out and it’s all about helping us learn to trust the Lord. How does she approach it? Through the lens of God’s holiness.

In Holier Than Thou: How God's Holiness Helps Us Trust Him, she writes, "If God is holy, then He can't sin. If God can't sin, then He can't sin against me. If He can't sin against me, shouldn't that make Him the most trustworthy being there is?"

The same way children trust their parents because they know them, have experienced their love and believe they hold their best intentions at heart, is how our Father God has acted toward us, but with unwavering faithfulness and perfect love.

She traces the holiness of God through creation, the fall, and redemption, defines his moral perfection-which illuminates our own sin and exposes the deceit in our hearts-and, describes his transcendence-the infinitely different ‘otherness’ of his character.

Now, this may sound like a lot of technical theological words (which they are) but she breaks it down for us, her readers, in simple, practical language helping us to learn more about the character of God and what it means for us as believers: “because God is holy, all that He says is true and all that He does is good.”

She contrasts the holiness of God and idolatry, “idolators don’t want the real God; they want to be him,” and because the gift of salvation in Christ, a holy vision of our sanctification becomes a real possibility.

This Christ-likeness is an active process. So often, “we have supposed that the way to help people be holy is to just tell them to “stop sinning,” when in fact, lasting transformation is a spiritual consequence of “beholding the glory of the Lord” (2 Cor 3:18).” To believe him and know him we must learn how he has revealed himself to us in the Word.

If you are struggling to trust God and you aren't sure you can, one place to start is by learning more about who he is. God is holy. He's not like us. He doesn't love imperfectly, he doesn't plan haphazardly, and he doesn't stand for sin, ever. “The holy, holy, holy God owes us nothing, but His compassion is what He’s given us anyway” and isn't that just amazing!! The gospel is lifesaving.

This book is seven chapters teaching us about what it means that God is holy. I'd really recommend it!

Quick Stats
# of pages: 208 pages
Level of difficulty: Moderate (for theological concepts) but explained in accessible language
My Rating: 5 stars!

A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to post an honest review! (full post at https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/wh...)

[LaTrice McNeil-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book. There is so much I want to say regarding this masterpiece. I really feel like this should be some required reading study for all Christians. She will challenge you in your thought process towards your believe in God and His Holiness in a way that left my mouth on the floor. If I could highlight the entire book, I would. I will be rereading this 3 more times this year alone. It's that good! GET THIS BOOK!

[Lovely Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75⭐️

I felt like it was addressing a concern that I don’t personally have; wondering HOW to know God is Holy, however by the end, I was so invested in the exploration of his Holiness that I loved it!!

[Kayla Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book on holiness! I love JHP’s poetic style, and I’ve heard Jackie’s voice enough that I felt like she was reading it to me as I read. I read some reviews on the book prior to reading it- and some criticize that she drew a lot of quotes from other more well known holiness authors. While there was a lot of quotes from other people, she still added plenty of her own commentary on those authors, which I enjoyed just as much. (I will likely read some of their books since they were spoken of so highly). This book was soaked in scripture (rightly so), and I now feel like I have a deeper understanding not only of holiness, but of the trinity, idolatry, righteousness, and justice.

[Jordan Swails]

Jackie Hill Perry’s gift is unreal; her points are delivered with equal parts straightforward conviction and an absence of condescension. Plus, I’m here for the poetic literary style she so easily offers the reader.

“Desiring God above all things is the soil from which holiness is grown.” A must-read.


1/24 Re-read: JHP always hits. Necessary and to-the-point reminders of how truly beholding our holy God moves us to love and serve Him, and why revering His holiness equips us to love and serve others.

[brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I REALLY wanted to like this book…I am a huge fan of Jackie but this book seemed to stray away from her relatable, easy-to-follow writing that I loved about Gay Girl, Good God. It felt repetitive at many points and difficult to track with. Nonetheless, there were MANY nuggets of gold that I grabbed from the book and really enjoyed. I heard that she narrates her own audiobook which I WISH I knew because I felt like this book would be much better to hear and not read. Overall, it can’t EVER hurt to read too much about God’s holiness.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

JHP writes like a poet. She uses wording that adds a different perspective to thinking about the holiness of God. I liked how this book built upon itself talking about Gods holiness and then our response to his holiness. However, I found myself getting lost and having a hard time tracking with the point JHP was trying to make. There were some great one liners and I finished the book overall feeling like I gained insight on holiness, but I felt like I could have gone without the book to get there.

[Jera Brand · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much wisdom! I want to start reading it again asap!

[rue ⋆˚꩜｡]

dnf-ing again because, while jhp is an amazing author, the meaning of this book got lost in the poetic phrasing. i hope to finish this someday, but at the moment it's just really hard to focus on.

[jerm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, truly beautiful. I listened to this one rather than read it, and I’m glad I did. As she explores the significance of the repetition of “holy holy holy” at the beginning of the book, I think Perry either subconsciously or consciously adopted a repetitive nature with this expository and profound yet simple book. She does not let you lose sight of what she’s getting at, at any point. At first this bothered me as a listener, but then it hit me how desperately I needed to hear the words over and over again.

There is truth in this book every believer needs to hear, particularly towards the end and in the last chapter. Perry brings home a difficult-for-our-culture topic with a biblical truth close to my heart: as we behold Jesus, we become like Him. In 1 John 3 John says “we will be like Him because we will see Him as He truly is.” This has become the hallmark of my understanding of sanctification and life with Jesus, and to witness Perry hammering this biblical truth home was a comfort. She also does a beautiful job of explaining the significant relationship between beholding and believing, and how these two when put together transform into becoming. Just beautiful.

The only neutral/slightly negative comment I’ll make is that, while often admirable and effective, Perry’s stoic, somewhat academic tone can often distract me from fully experiencing what she’s saying. Not saying I want someone to play with my emotions via operatic performance lol
Just sometimes she feels a little lifeless in her reading. Personally I could be convinced that this is due to her dependence on the Spirit communicating His truth apart from her tonalities or emphases - an extremely poignant trait that most modern-day pastors ought to give thought to. For me it just made it hard to pay attention sometimes.
(Edit: this is obviously a review of the “audio” in audiobook and not a reflection of the actual material’s quality; hence the five stars despite an issue.)

Overall a major recommend from moi, as well as The Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer, if you haven’t read that one. She quotes it a handful of times and it’s up there in my life-changing reads, and would provide a great predecessor or follow-up to this one.

[Caleb Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie Hill Perry's poetic narration delivers both stunning and refreshing content as she unfolds the implications of who God is to readers in the 2020's era. She gets Tozer and Piper-type theology to flow into a tik-tok context. Amazing, highly recommend.

[Taliah Kendrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

We started off the year at church learning about holiness, so I knew it was time to grab this off my shelf. This is such an impactful book that will help shape your view of God. I’d love to re-read going through a chapter each week, or even with a group of friends. Must read!

[Sarah Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contemplative. Compelling. Convicting.

Once again, Jackie speaks boldly and tenderly to the heart, calling believers to see, revel in, and respond to the glorious holiness (set-apartness, extraordinary uniqueness) of God.

She paints not just a stunning picture of that God-worth-worshipping, but unveils the appalling audacity and senselessness of image-bearers rejecting their role to instead serve themselves as gods. In so doing she straightforwardly directs readers to the root of sin, so to then guide them to repentance and transformation by returning to the solution: the satisfaction found in the HOLY God alone, who alone can sustain our deepest needs and desires.

At times her writing feels a bit repetitive and almost rambley, but I imagine it’s only because she is trying to reinforce the mind-blowing realities we desperately need to grasp about the greatness of God.

I read this slowly because it needed savoring.
The truths within it are so striking, I foresee them resonating for months to come.
This book is definitely going on my “worth rereading” stack.

[Scott Monteith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artsy in style, but rooted in hard-hitting objective truth.

Have to admit, the writing style took a bit of getting used to, but worth hanging in there. The chapter “Holy Justice” in particular was excellent, and the book is full of helpful challenges to our underlying assumptions towards God’s holiness.

[Amanda Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great, deep dive into God’s holiness and how it should transform our lives and our approach to God. I love Perry’s writing style and would highly recommend this book.

[Ainsley Roller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book GENUINELY changed my brain !!!!!!! Jackie Hill Perry is one of my FAVORITE authors & speakers, and the way she speaks about God’s Holiness has absolutely changed how I view Him, approach Him, and look upon the world + sin. I couldn’t recommend this enough !!

Fav quotes:
“…we have a ridiculously low view of sin and an equally mediocre grasp of the holiness of God.”
“The Son was forsaken so that all who are far off may be brought near.”
“Wanting human methods for maturity, a natural way to be heavenly, our motivations are sadly mistaken”
“…a power that is independent of us must transform us from the inside out. We must be made alive before we can be made holy.”

[Michelle Sabino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little harder for me to get through but nonetheless had some insane moments that literally had me in tears reflecting on the holiness of our God and how He could love me the way He does despite my sin. I love Jacki Hill Perry’s writing style but you definitely have to take it slow to get all her points and nuggets. She’s too talented for my puny brain.

[Catherine Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jackie’s voice, you can hear it through her writing. This book was excellent. I have described it like a geometric proof stating “if x is true & y is true, then xy must also be true”. It was a beautiful description of God’s holiness. My affections for God were stirred and grown through reading this book.

“If God can’t sin, then he can’t sin against you. If He can’t sin against you, shouldn’t that make Him the most trustworthy being there is?”

So good.