Two Causes Of Religious Error
There are reasons that people do not do things the way God has specified.

Introduction
That error exists in religion today no one can deny.
That man is responsible for such error must be admitted by all. Some might want to blame Satan but that is not correct.
That it is not pleasing to God must be admitted by all. We would hope so, but sadly, not the case.
One needs to learn how to avoid such errors.
Since the above is true, we need to study some of the causes of religious error.

Ignorance
Hosea 4:6
People have a tendency to be lazy when it comes to really studying the Bible.
Failure to study the Bible thoroughly will bring about misuse of it. A wrong division of it.
This is one of the great weaknesses in religious circles today and even in the church of the Lord.
We must overcome this one-hour-a week is enough idea.
If one thoroughly studies and meditates upon the word of God such will develop ones appetite and cause him to "hunger and thirst" after righteousness.
We cannot expect others to study their Bibles with us unless we are able to lead them in such study. This takes effort on our part to be prepared to lead in such study.
People that claim to be highly religious do not have a good understanding of the over-all teaching of the Bible.
Such allows them to be lead into error and to lead others into error.
This ignorance is shown among the Sadducees of Jesus' day. Matthew 22:23-30.
It is even evident among the disciples of Jesus John 20.
There is willful ignorance that people engage in.
A failure to have a deep and respectful knowledge of the Bible brings about the creeds of men.
But the ignorant are not going to be held guiltless.
All of God's laws are immutable, unchangeable.
Ones excuses will not set aside the law of God. Nor diminish ones responsibility.

New Age Thinking
Such religion thrives on ignorance and superstition.
The Bible makes God’s plan for man clear instead of veiling it in superstitious ideas.
We are told that God is light, not darkness. Christ is light (1 John 1:5; John 1:9).
We are told that Christ brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10).
Christianity is not vague or mysterious to those who are knowledgeable with respect to the teaching of the Bible.
The Bible appeals to ones intellect.
It has very little appeal to the emotions or the mysterious bent of ones mind.
Emotions and Feelings will bring about the wrong conclusions on what the Bible really teaches.
Often, people try to interpret what the Bible teaches according to their emotional feelings about a particular religious subject.
Many people make the statement: "I know what the Bible says, but I cannot ignore and I must follow what I feel deep down in my heart."
Usually when they make such statement, they pat themselves on their left breast indicating their heart that is giving them such feelings.
When they pat themselves on the breast it is evident that they are ignorant of Bible teaching upon the subject of the heart. Especially the heart that represents ones intellect or knowledge. The heart in ones breast is only a fleshly blood pump and has no intellect within itself.
But speaking of following ones heart in what he believes and does in religion, one should take time to read what is said in Jeremiah 17:9 where we are told that the "heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (exceedingly corrupt) who can know it?"

Conclusion
There are many causes and reasons for error we could talk about.
God calls upon us to use common sense.
We must study the Bible thoroughly and respectably in order to avoid error.
If the Bible is the word of God, and it is, we must not minimize it by perversion and misuse.
Just do what the Bible tells you to do and leave the results up to God.

By Carey Scott from an outline by Jim Sasser

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