Baalism vs Biblical Worship 2

In Baalism the quality of worship was determined by how the worshipper felt. What in the Bible is viewed as a by-product and therefore inconsequential to worship- our feelings- was the focus and pursuit of the religion of Baal. In the words of Eugene Peterson, “While the prophetic accusation of ‘harlotry’ had a literal reference to the sacred prostitution of the Baal cult, it extended its meaning by metaphor into the entire theology of worship. It referred to worship that sought fulfillment through self-expression, worship that accepted the needs and desires and passions of the worshiper as its raw material. ‘Harlotry’ is worship that says, ‘I will give you satisfaction. You want religious feelings? I will give them to you.’” (Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work, p. 181)