Book Review:
The Hole in Our Holiness
by Kevin DeYoung
A recommended resource for "You Are... a series in Christian Basics"
Review by Laura Dobratz

I don’t know what your reaction would be if you were asked to read and review a book on holiness but I have to admit to being a little unenthusiastic. I may even have groaned inwardly a little. After all, I don’t think about myself as holy; in fact I tend to sit and stay in the “I’m a sinner” camp too often. I anticipated it being a tough and discouraging read. I was so wrong! Kevin DeYoung’s The Hole in Our Holiness contains deep biblical truths about sanctification and the pursuit of holiness that are communicated with simplicity, humor and a shepherd’s voice that encourages, exhorts and edifies. (He recently spoke on this topic at The Spurgeon Fellowship on October 18th. If you would like to check out his sessions GO HERE.)

In the opening pages of the book, DeYoung unpacks his view that most Christians don’t really care much about holiness. For a variety of reasons they don’t think about it, understand it from a biblical perspective, or pursue it. He says, “There is a gap between our love for the gospel and our love for godliness…. It’s not pietism, legalism or fundamentalism to take holiness seriously. It’s the way of all those who have been called to a holy calling by a holy God.” As Christ followers, our accepted and holy position before God is not based on our righteous work but on the work of Christ on our behalf, but that does not mean we aren’t called to be a holy people. The pursuit of holiness is a response to the grace and goodness of the gospel.

What I really liked about this book was it made me think about pursuing holiness, and that our pursuit should be intentional - it takes effort. In a section titled “Effort is Not a Four-Letter Word,” DeYoung reminds us that followers of Christ shouldn’t be afraid of striving, fighting and working; “Christians work - they work to kill sin and they work to live in the Spirit. They have rest in the Gospel, but never rest in their battle against the flesh and the devil. The child of God has two great marks about him; he is known for his inner warfare and his inner peace.”

One of my favorite chapters comes at the end: DeYoung ends his book with a reminder that since the pursuit of holiness is marked by progress that will include victories and defeats it should produce a godly grief that leads to repentance…hating our sin, crying out to God and turning to Him. God calls us to holiness and wants us to be holy children, so let's answer that call.