There are more warnings about not worshipping other gods and about worshipping God properly. Why these injunctions? Well they would see outwardly impressive symbols of other religions. They were not to be taken in by them. The warnings about worshipping God in the proper way are there because it is vital that we worship God in the way He has chosen. God is not created by man, but gods are. Left to our won devices we will make things up, we will event gods, we will make up ways of doing things, but this is the root of rebellion. It is God alone who gives life, we need to trust in Him. One of the main problems that the churches have today is when they go against the Bible, thinking we know better. We do not know better.
Strong action was to be taken against those who led the nation astray, but this had to be done only on the basis of firm evidence (two or three witnesses) not on hearsay or rumour. Those who testified against the person had to take responsibility for their testimony, and the whole community had to take responsibility for the judgement. Now we might say that having a different religion does not merit such a harsh penalty, and I am not in favour of stoning heretics! However, it was not just a matter of following a quaint religion. The false religions of the day led to child sacrifice, and all sorts of other evils. It was not just a matter of having a different "view" on things.
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