When the Israelites take over the promised land they are to tear down all the heathen altars of the previous inhabitants and burn all the idols in the fire. They must not repurpose pagan religious sites for worship of the Lord; He will choose a primary location of worship---a religious capitol---for the nation. If followed correctly, these rules will help keep the people from mixing idolatry with true religion (or falling into idolatry entirely) and help the people from drifting away from the Lord's instructions and making up their own religious rituals to suit themselves.
If left to our own devices, we will develop and observe religious practices that serve our carnal natures. We'll make allowances for sin. We'll be lazy in worship. We'll skimp on tithes and offerings. What the carnal side of our nature wants is to worship God our way because worshiping our way doesn't call us to move up higher. It doesn't ask us to step out of our comfort zone. It allows us to be satisfied with mediocre spirituality instead of creating in our souls a burning desire to continually grow in our relationship with the Lord.
We can't worship the Lord our way and be who He intended us to be. We can't worship the Lord our way and experience the deep satisfaction of the soul that He wants for us. Most importantly, we can't come to the Lord our way and receive forgiveness and salvation. He makes the rules. We have broken His rules but He's mercifully offered us a means of salvation. He has told us how to obtain salvation and His way is the only way He accepts. We have to come to the Lord on His terms and worship Him in His way.
Allowances were made for the Israelites while they traveled in the wilderness. They had the tabernacle as a center of worship but until they were settled in the promised land there was a sense of informality about the religious rites they were observing. They were living in tents and the house of God itself was a tent; this created a more casual atmosphere in the camp than the atmosphere they will experience once they've arrived at their destination. Moses remarks on the way the people have been held to looser standards in the wilderness than they will be held to once they have possession of the land the Lord is going to give them. "You are not to do as we do here today, everyone doing as they see fit, since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the Lord your God is giving you." (Deuteronomy 12:8-9)
There were many reasons why not all of the people could carry out all of the Lord's instructions regarding religious rituals when they were camped in the wilderness or were on the move in the wilderness. But these reasons won't exist once they are settled in the promised land. They will be at home then. They won't constantly be on guard against attacks from enemy tribes or attacks by wild animals as they were when they dwelled in the wilderness. They won't have to be ready to break camp and move out at a moment's notice as they were required to be in the wilderness. Instead they will be living in houses, growing crops or herding animals or working at their various trades, raising their families, and making lives for themselves. A big part of making lives for themselves---the most important part---involves worshiping the Lord wholeheartedly in the way and in the place He commands. "But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and He will give you rest from your enemies around you so that you will live in safety. Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for His name---there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the Lord. And there rejoice before the Lord your God---you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns who have no allotment or inheritance of their own. Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please. Offer them only at the place the Lord your God will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you." (Deuteronomy 12:10-14)
Just as Israel had freedom of religion in the promised land, so you and I have freedom of religion in the United States of America. No one has ever blocked my way into the church building. No one has ever grabbed me on the street and pulled my Bible out of my hand. No one has ever forbidden me to watch religious programs on my TV or listen to preachers of the gospel or praise music on the radio in my house or in my car. No one has ever threatened me with death if I bow on my knees and pray to the Lord privately in my own home or if I bow my head in thanks over a meal in a public restaurant. I can't say whether or not we'll always have this much liberty to worship the Lord in these ways, but while we have this liberty we have no excuse for not worshiping Him. Praying, studying the Bible, and attending religious services are things which are pleasing and acceptable to the Lord and while we have the liberty to do these things we have an obligation to do them. Worshiping Him in these ways is worshiping Him in His way and I don't want to be standing in front of Him after this life is over and have Him ask me why I didn't take advantage of the religious freedom He granted me. Moses is saying something like this to the Israelites: "While you lived in Egypt you weren't free to worship the Lord in the ways you'll be free to worship Him in the promised land. While you journeyed in the wilderness it was not always practical or easy to observe every ritual you'll be expected to observe in the promised land. But once the Lord has given you the beautiful inheritance He promised, there will be no excuse for not worshiping Him in the ways He's prescribed and in the place He will choose."
We have no excuse today for not worshiping the Lord and for not worshiping Him in His way. If we are not showing Him the honor and thanks due Him, no one is stopping us but ourselves.
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