Tag: God’s Presence

On my recent trip to New Zealand I visited a chapel that had been richly decorated by Maori artisans. The altar had three Maori words boldy written across the front: TAPU, TAPU, TAPU. I asked a New Zealander if tapu might mean holy. She replied “yes”, but she told me that more specifically it means sacred or prohibited. Her answer got me thinking about the meaning of holiness in relation to God.