Worship happens when we align ourselves with how God is moving in the world. I knew that because I loved meat, I could never really understand what it was like to live in a third world country and struggle. I couldn’t understand, because I could simply drive to McDonald's and get a Double-Cheeseburger for a dollar. I didn’t know struggle. I had difficulty aligning myself to God’s will for my life because I couldn't empathize with experiences so far outside my personal world.
God’s will doesn’t include famine, disease, or war in the world (most of which is happening in the developing world). God’s will is for peace, for the wolf to lay with the lamb, and for the calf to hang out with a lion (Isaiah 11). There will be an eschatological age of peace! I want to live my life in that peace. I want to take hold of what God is doing, claim it in my life and bring the kingdom of Heaven to Earth.
I want peace in my life that only God can give. I was listening to a sermon by Greg Boyd, and he said, “Purity of heart means that you are no longer double-minded.” We live in between Jesus’ resurrection and his second coming. We live in a state of “in-between-ness.” The fullness of God’s glory and power hasn’t come to fruition, but we are charged to live it out.
So, I became a vegetarian in order to empathize with those who struggle and possibly get a taste of God’s eschatological peace (consider it a sort of head start). I didn’t have to and I certainly don’t advocate other to do the same, but it has been important for me on my faith journey as I do my part to usher in God's Kingdom here on earth.
Travis Goodspeed is a Junior Religion major at Wright State University in Fairborn, OH. He has a passion to reach people through music. This passion was acted upon in 2007 when he joined the worship band at his home church. Travis is excited to a part of this online community and can't wait to share some of his thoughts, comments, and dreams about worship.