are
describing someone who, through loopholes and parsing of words,
nullifies the intent of the law.
When you, if
you are a parent, tell your child, “You need to pick up your room,” and
you come back an hour later and the room is still a mess and the response is
“Well, you didn’t say I had to pick it up NOW,” that is a legalistic
approach.
When does the
volume of laws in a society increase? When everyone obeys the law? No the
addition to law comes through disobedience; through finding loopholes in,
and ways around, keeping the law.
Additional
problems are created by adding more laws resulting in the creation of more
places to find loopholes and ways around the intent of the law.
Good examples of legalism are found in our modern legal system.
Politicians are also a good source of examples of legalism.
In his speech
to the country during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, President Clinton made
some comments that are worth talking about.
He said:
"While
my answers were legally accurate, I did not volunteer information. I know
that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false
impression. I misled people."
In essence he
was saying that he was following the letter of the law.
You Can’t Legislate Morality
One thing to
always remember is that even though something may be legal, it is not
necessarily right. Paul makes this point in the book of 1 Corinthians where
he says:
1 Corinthians 6:12
16
All things may be legal to me , but not all things are
acceptable.