It makes us narrow and divisive. The legalist insists that everyone attain the standard that they have adopted. In other words, everyone needs to be like me. These people miss the delight of diversity and the growth that can come from others of different experience and culture. The legalist chooses to walk in a tunnel when the Lord has given us a great and wonderful world to enjoy.
Legalism alienates the world.
There is nothing that pushes people away faster than legalism. Steve Brown writes, My friend, Jim Green, told me about an interesting incident that happened on the first live nationwide television broadcast. Because it was a first, a number of prominent people were asked to address the nation. Conrad Hilton was among those who had that opportunity. Everyone waited to see what this great man would say to such a tremendous audience.