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I think you've done a very good job of illuminating the different levels of spiritual discipleship. If I could encapsulate it it is the difference between living by the letter of the law vs. living by the spirit of the law. No?

It is quite true that some people need to live by the LotL because that is all that is in their capacity to do. Perhaps most people need to. And you have made clear that it is not a thing of shame to have that lesser capacity. For those who can live by the SotL it is certainly a downfall to hold themselves as higher because they can walk at that level. (And FWIW I don't think you have.)

That said, my point is that there is an appropriate and positive way to live by the LotL. IMO that is to apply it to oneself with great vigor and faith while concerning oneself with others uprightness with great trepidation and gentleness.

This is where the Islamists, and many others, fail by taking the view that it is the sins of others that must be dealt with harshly while finding endless justifications for one's own faults. That is not the right way to live by the LotL and there is a right way.

It seems to me that those who need to live by the law often are misled or mislead themselves into trying to live in the spirit while rigidly applying the law at the same time and great confusion results. That confusion often leads to calamity.

FWIW

I would like to butt in and clarify a point about living by the letter of the law though. You may have addressed it but I don't see it clearly. That is, when you point to Islamists as those who live by the LotL (and I think you particularly mean radical Islamists by your descriptions) they are not practicing in an appropriate and positive way.
That said, my point is that there is an appropriate and positive way to live by the LotL. IMO that is to apply it to oneself with great vigor and faith while concerning oneself with others uprightness with great trepidation and gentleness.
This is where the Islamists, and many others, fail by taking the view that it is the sins of others that must be dealt with harshly while finding endless justifications for one's own faults. That is not the right way to live by the LotL and there is a right way.

Thanks for your post. I appreciate you taking the time to correct and clarify here. I agree with these paragraphs and I am thankful to you for the clarification.

What you add here is stated so well and really quite eloquantly. Thank you so much!