Legalism paradoxically disables the power it aims to secure

Evidence

Legalism—trying to keep the law by good works—actually renders Christians powerless. The Bible validates this: “Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made [you] free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). Romans 7:1-4 tells us anyone who tries to keep the law after he has the Spirit of God in him is really an “adulterer” (Galatians 3:12a). — Chuck Missler, The Kingdom, Power and Glory, 1228

Categorization

• XREF: Parallels Paul’s antinomian critics and anticipates concerns raised in the law-versus-grace literature. — connects to: A third law favors public officials whose state power funds endless legal delay — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 969; Mystified arbitrary power becomes immune to legal restraint — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 628; Unprecedented power cannot be constrained by law made before it exists — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1637 (+11 more)
• recurring: this claim recurs 2 times within its source

Broader Connections

• Laws meant to enhance freedom can themselves create new arbitrary power. #corroborates (0.90) — Frank Lovett, Republicanism, 56
• Sacralized imperial power frames law itself as a snare that weakens authority #exemplifies (0.88) — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 2449
• Mystified arbitrary power becomes immune to legal restraint #corroborates (0.85) — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 628
• Sovereignty produces a will to law rather than a rule of law #corroborates (0.85) — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 418
• Narrow concepts of legal validity fail to prevent official abuse of power #corroborates (0.82) — HLA Hart, The Concept of Law (Clarendon Law…, 502
• An ultimate power to decide generates its own norms and cannot be trusted #corroborates (0.80)
• Granting new legal rights can weaken rather than strengthen one’s position. #exemplifies (0.78) — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 789
• Unprecedented power cannot be constrained by law made before it exists #qualifies (0.75) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1637
• Rule of law makes power context-free and universally mobilizable #complicates (0.72) — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 673