And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be
called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it;
but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall
not err therein (Isaiah 35:8).

Welcome to the Holiness Faith and the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Inc. We are always delighted to know of the interest of others in our faith and doctrine. Actually, True Holiness and Sanctification is more than a system of doctrinal beliefs. It is a "way of life!" The Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Inc. was established by Mary Lena Lewis Tate in 1903. Today, many branches of the Church exist throughout the United States and in a number of foreign countries (many of the search engines will prove fruitful in helping to locate some of them).

You may browse this page by scrolling down or by clicking on any of the topics in the index. Of course, you may print the entire page by clicking on the print icon of your browser. All citations are from The Beauty of Holiness: A Small Catechism of the Holiness Faith and Doctrine, The New and Living Way Publishing Company, Nashville, TN, 1990. And of course, we would like for you to meet our Chief Overseer, Dr. Meharry H. Lewis, who is responsible this page. Other officers of the Church will be found as you explore the various links.

Have a pleasant trip as you explore True Holiness and Sanctification and as you are introduced to The Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Inc.! You are always welcome.

Holiness Becomes The House of God

The Apostle Paul referred to "...the name of God and his doctrine..." (I Tim. 6:1); Christ declared, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men," (Matt. 15:9). These passages strongly suggest that there is a doctrine (A Way) which belongs to God (Isa. 35:8); and there are other doctrines (ways) which are of man's devices (Jer. 6:16). Scripture points to the Way of Holiness as God's Way or doctrine:

Exo. 28:36; 15:11; Psa. 93:65; 99:9; Isa. 35:8; 57:15; 64:9-12; 56:7-8;
Deut. 14:2; 7:6; Rom. 11:16; 6:21-23; Lev. 20:7; 19:2;
Zech. 14:20; Acts 1:8; Luke 1:75, 76; I Pet. 1:15, 16;
Heb. 12:14; Eph. 4:24; II Cor. 7:1.

Holiness Is An Entire Way Of Life

True Holiness is a way of totally ordering our lives in all of its myriad aspects. It is a Way of...

1.    Walking: II John 3, 4; Eph. 4:1, 2; 5:2-4, 15;
    II Cor. 5:1-7; Col. 2:1-7; 4:5; I John (entire chapter); Eph.
   Gal. 5:16-26; I Thess. 4:1, 7; Col. 4:5; Phil. 3:17-21.

2.    Talking: II Pet. 3:11; Col. 4:4, 6; 3:9, 10; Phil. 3:20;
    Isa. 40:1, 2; Matt. 12:36, 37; I Pet. 3:10; Jas. 1:26;
    I Cor. 13:1; I Sam. 2:3.

3.    Dressing: I Sam. 16:7; Rom. 16:2; Eph. 5:3 ("old dress");
    Eph. 4:21-24 ("new dress"); 6:10-18; Col. 3:8-10.

4.    Eating: Judg. 13:2-7; Rom. 14:17-23; Dan. 1:8; Col. 2:16;
    Lev. 11th chapter; Acts 11:1-18; I Tim. 4:1-5;
    Judg. 14:4; Gal. 5:22, 23 ("fruits").

5.    Relating to others: I John 3:16-24; Col. 3:18-22
   (see entire 3rd chapter); I John 4:11; I Pet. 4:8;
    3:8-11; I Thess. 3:11-13; Phil. 2:2.

6.    Thinking: Phil. 4:8; Prov. 23:7; Matt. 9:4; II Cor.
    3:5; Gal. 6:3; Jas. 1:6-8.

7.    Behaving: Tit. 2nd chapter; Jas. 1:2, 3; I &
    II Tim. (entire books); I Thess. 4th chapter; I Cor. 13th chapter.

8.    Working: John 5:17; 6:28; 9:4; Acts 10:35;
    II Cor. 4:17; II Tim. 2:15; Eph. 2:10; Jas. 2:18.

9.    Living: Tit. 2:12; Hab. 2:4; Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4;
    20:28; Acts 17:28; rom. 14:8; II Cor. 6:1-10;
    Gal. 2:19; 5:25; II Tim. 3:12.

10.    Dying: Num. 23:10; John 11:51; Col. 2:20;
    II Tim. 2:11; I Cor. 15:50-58; and, Rev. 14:13.

The above behavior areas and Scriptures do not exhaust the Bible support of Holiness as a Way of Life, but they do lead us on an exciting journey through many of the areas in our lives in which Holiness as a faith and doctrine must have impact.

It is evident that the teachers and preachers of the Holiness Faith and doctrine appreciate the fact that Holiness has more Bible support as a doctrine than does any other. Its foundation is sure; its foundation is the Holy Trinity (Catechism, pp.17,18).

THE PLAN OF SALVATION

5.	RECEPTION OF THE HOLY GHOST

Although the sequence is not necessarily rigid or "fixed" in the Plan, each step is nonetheless critical in the progression to the ultimate goal--ETERNAL LIFE (Catechism, p.54).

 THE CHIEF OVERSEER

Meharry Hubbard Lewis currently holds the post of Chief Overseer of the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Inc. He is also a diocese bishop currently with responsibilities in the States of Alabama and Florida. He has authored a number of books and articles on the Church, including an extensive history of the Founder, Bishop M.L. Tate, and the founding of the Church (Vision!). He is a graduate of Tennessee State University, Nashville (B.S. and M.S.); and Indiana University, Bloomington, where he received the doctor of philosophy degree. Bishop M.H. Lewis is the father of two children, Karen Lewis Dobbins and Arlan David Lewis.

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