Do believing Christians imagine they are less accountable to all the instruction, council, parables and teachings of Jesus than those first disciples just because they weren’t there to hear and see Him ‘in person’? Of course not. We know certainly that what He taught them, He meant for us as well, ‘cause He said so:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, . . . teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Mat 28:19-20

If we stopped right there, we could all be friends. I intentionally left out a most important word in that first paragraph because it’s a deal-breaker for many so-called Bible lovers. Jesus’ instruction, teaching and example were the building blocks and context that enabled the disciples to hear and obey what was most important . . . His commands.

Jesus commands us to Love. Most of us are cool with that because it’s vague. So many ways to love. But by Jesus’ living example - perfectly representing the Father - Jesus explained that His understanding of love was never void of the context of power. Ask yourself this question: Would Jesus ever have drawn anyone’s attention to the Kingdom of God without the powerful acts that accompanied His teachings of love and mercy?

Apart from miraculous, heavenly power, the Bible is a silly book. Silly, because while it purports to be THE way of salvation, without miracles it's just like a thousand other books. But the Bible presents the one true and Living God as He who promises to fix our real, serious problems and then, He does. A church that does not, will not, display the power associated with the Kingdom they claim to represent, and the book they claim to believe, is beyond silly. It bears a false witness. The same Spirit that animates Christ Jesus must animate His own body.

The Bible emphatically states that the Good News of Jesus Christ comes not in mere words but in power. Jesus expressed compassion by performing miracles of healing, multiplying food and breaking off demonic oppression. He said that his followers will do the same works that He did. Then He gave them the authority to actually do them.

So many well-meaning Christians balk at Jesus’ command to His followers:
And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Mat 7-8

You can just watch the religious dance. They start saying, “That’s not for everybody. Those first disciples were especially appointed to do such things, not us.” It’s like some gospel jig. All of a sudden, they get to pick what teachings and commands fit them. Then the whole dance floor gets slippery.

By and by, we devolve into a Christian Club with little resemblance to the Book we read and the Savior whose name we wear. And we double-down on our great arguments for why it’s ok to proclaim an Almighty Kingdom without acting like its King.

We oughta just quit learning new dance steps. We oughta just read the Book, believe it and start doing it.