At First Methodist Midland, we believe the Garden was home to God’s loving presence, wisdom, and abundant provision, and where He revealed man’s purpose: to serve and protect His creation. Our vision is to restore Christ followers to our created purpose of being with God and bearing his image and character into the world.
First Methodist Midland Vision Statement
Returning with Jesus to the goodness of the Garden
THE GARDEN – In the beginning[1], God created a garden – the Garden of Eden[2]. When He created humans in His image[3], He placed them in this garden where they were to continuously be with Him. The Garden was home to God’s loving presence, wisdom, and abundant provision, and where He revealed man’s purpose – to serve and protect His creation.[4] The Biblical words for this purpose are AVAD and SHAMAR. AVAD is translated as “to work” or “to serve.” This means that humans were designed to serve God and to serve others. Just as God is life-giving, we give life by serving (AVAD) others. SHAMAR is translated as “to keep, protect or take care of.” This means as we join God in bringing forth life, we commit to protecting life by keeping (SHAMAR) His word. God also uses the words AVAD and SHAMAR to describe the purpose of priests. Adam and Eve were God’s original servants/priests (AVAD). Since we are made in God’s image, we are also priests with a purpose of AVAD and SHAMAR. As priests, we seek to share His love and mercy to transform our broken world into a place more like the Garden. The biblical writers describe the realities of the Garden with different terms: Kingdom of God, Heaven, New Jerusalem, eternal life. But no matter the name, the Garden is where God reigns.
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to [AVAD] work it and [SHAMAR] take care of it.”
7They [the priests] are to [SHAMAR] perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by [AVAD] doing the work of the tabernacle. 8They are to [SHAMAR] take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by [AVAD] doing the work of the tabernacle.
[1] Genesis 1:1, John 1:1
[2] Genesis 2:8
[3] Genesis 1:26-28
[4] Genesis 2:15
[5] Genesis 1:1, John 1:1
[6] Genesis 1:26-28
[7] Genesis 3:1-8
RETURNING – In the beginning,[5] God’s desire was for us to be with Him always and to bear His image and character to the world,[6] but Adam and Eve chose to turn from God.[7] The grand narrative of the Bible tells the story of God guiding humanity to return to His original purpose. Scripture is full of Repentance, Reconciliation, Resurrection, Redemption, Restoration. These “Re” words are echoes of the Hebrew word SHUV, which means to “return something to its original intended state” or to “return to the beginning of things.” Humanity is at its best when we accept God’s authority over our lives and His invitation to deny ourselves[8] and [SHUV] return to Him.
“I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. [SHUV] Return to me, and I will [SHUV] return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to [SHUV] return?’”
“[SHUV] Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words of repentance with you and [SHUV] return to the LORD. Say to Him: Forgive us all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.”
[5] Genesis 1:1, John 1:1
[6] Genesis 1:26-28
[7] Genesis 3:1-8
[8] Matthew 16:24-27
WITH JESUS – Returning to the Garden cannot be done alone but only with our Rabbi, Savior, and King: Jesus. Jesus is our Rabbi and teacher who we strive to follow so closely that we will be covered in the dust from His feet. By studying His life and teachings, we learn how to live in God’s presence free from the power of sin and how to fulfill our call to love and serve God and our neighbor.[9] Jesus is our Savior because in love He freely gave His sinless life to pay the price for our sins. Humanity was exiled from the Garden when we chose sin over God’s perfect intention. Jesus redeems us and restores us to our created purpose of being with God and bearing His image and character into the world.[10] Jesus is our King, the ultimate authority in Heaven and on Earth.[11] The Bible tells us that Jesus judges all of humanity[12] and sits on the throne in heaven forever. As disciples, we are freed to obey and participate with Him in building His Kingdom on Earth.[13] We believe the journey of returning to the Garden can only be done by following Jesus as our Rabbi, acknowledging Him as our Savior, and worshiping Him as our King.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me; you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
[9] Mark 12:28-31
[11] Revelation 17:14
[12] Acts 10:42
[13] Matthew 6:9-10
GOODNESS – Goodness is the essence of God’s character and His creation.[14] As the drama of scripture unfolds, we learn that God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, and faithful,[15] and these characteristics are displayed throughout His good, abundant, and fruitful creation. The Hebrew word for Good is TOV, which describes something that bears fruit, which goes on to bear its own fruit. We are TOV as we follow Jesus and exhibit God’s character in our lives in a way that brings forth life in others, so that they may bear TOV fruit.[16] God blesses us with His Spirit[17] to live transformed lives[18] for the sake of others[19] as they join us on this journey of returning with Jesus to the goodness of the Garden.[20]
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good (TOV). And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
[14] Genesis 1:1-30 – Notice how good (tov) is mentioned seven times in the creation story. This is God’s evaluation of his creative work and the first repeated theme in the Bible.
[15] Exodus 34:6 – This passage, in part or in whole, is the most repeated passage in the Bible.
[16] John 15:16-17
[17] Galatians 5:22-25
[18] Romans 12:1-3
[19] Revelation 22:17
[20] Psalm 27:13