One Step Too Far

Why is it that we tend to go one step too far? I'm particularly thinking about holiness and the Christian life (although I think this extends beyond that). We have a very good desire, to be holy, but it plays out so often as self-righteousness.

For example, we want to keep our minds and hearts pure. Therefore, we set a rule, "no movies but G rated films". Or we want to encourage abstinence so we create a rule, "no dancing". Christians are not the only ones susceptible to this thinking. Schools institute "zero tolerance" policies for all kinds of things and this leads to children being expelled for bringing nail clippers to school.

We tend to go one step too far. Something within us always pulls us toward legalism.

Derek Webb writes this,

Don't teach me about politics and Government
Just tell me who to vote for
Don't teach me about truth and beauty
Just label my music
Don't teach me how to live like a free man
Just give me a new law
I don't wanna know if the answers aren't easy
So just bring it down from the mountain to me
I want a new law
I want a new law
Gimme that new law

I think he nails it. We want the answers to be easy. The easy answers are legalistic answers. The "new law" and they always go one step too far.