Legalism emphasizes the externals and becomes preoccupied with trivia. Legalism makes things other than God absolute. Legalism obscures a clear view of God. Legalism is insensitive to human need. Legalism develops into a religion of experts.
Legalism creates judgment and divisions.
Legalism always needs more interpretation. Legalism denies your freedom to make your own decisions based on your personal experience with God. The awesome destructive power of judgmental legalism in religion should not be underestimated. Legalistic religion undermines self esteem. Jesus came to liberate people from hopeless bondage to legalistic judgmental abusive religion.