Then Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” (Acts 3:6)

Peter and John came across a crippled man at the temple gate, a man who had been lame from birth. Like the other beggars, he was expecting some money from them, a small token of charity to alleviate his immediate needs. However, what he received was far beyond what he imagined, something that would not only solve his temporary problem but also transform his entire life.

The man believed that his greatest need at that moment was financial relief. This reflects the natural tendency of humanity, to look for help in the ways they understand best. If a person is poor, he wants money. If he is sick, he turns to doctors. If uneducated, he pursues education. These are the conventional ways of the world, and they have their place. But as Christians, we must understand that God has another way, a higher way, and it is the way of the miracle.

The world is focused on natural solutions — economics, education, medicine, politics. But these are not the primary answers to the problems humanity faces. These approaches are temporary and insufficient. In contrast, God offers the supernatural, the miraculous. The way of the miracle through faith in Jesus Christ transcends the limitations of human solutions.

Peter did not just offer a handout. He gave the man a miracle in the name of Jesus. Most Christians and churches, when faced with social issues such as poverty, sickness, or inequality, default to charitable responses. They focus on social programs, education, or medical solutions, thinking that these are the best ways to show love and help people. While these things have their place, they are insufficient, even misleading, if we neglect the power of the miracle.

Consider the significant social issues of our time: abortion, healthcare for the elderly, mental illness, and so on. The world’s solutions involve political debates, economic reform, and social programs. But where is the voice of the church advocating the way of the miracle? It is criminal for Christians to remain silent about the power of God when discussing these issues. Imagine if the apostles had only given money to the poor man instead of healing him. It would have been a temporary bandage on the problem, not a solution.

The way of the miracle is greater than charity. Charity can only address temporary needs, if even that, but a miracle addresses the root of the problem. The crippled man could have been given money every day for the rest of his life, but he would have remained crippled. However, when Peter healed him in the name of Jesus, his life was changed forever. He was restored, and his dignity was uplifted in a way that no charitable donation could ever accomplish. The miracle also resulted in much praise toward God, and drew attention to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Charity is not wrong. Scripture instructs us to be generous, to give to the poor, and to help those in need. But charity must never be seen as a substitute for the supernatural power of God. Charity can relieve temporary suffering, but a miracle can remove the cause of the suffering entirely.

Peter said that he did not have silver and gold for the man, but that would change soon enough. Shortly after this miracle, the Bible says that more and more believers were added to the church, and many believers placed their money at the feet of the apostles. The church was not without resources. However, the first act we read about in this early church setting is a miracle, not a financial donation. And after they had gathered money, they did even more miracles than before. Miracles manifest the glory of God in a way that mere charity cannot.

What we see today in many churches is faithless religion. There is no power, no miracles, and often no money either. It is a disgrace. Churches should not just be another charity organization or a social program provider. If that is all we are, then we are no different from the world, because this is not the gospel that Jesus commanded us to preach. The church has failed to embrace and proclaim the power of God in the way the early disciples did, but God has never changed. He is still a miracle-working God, and his way remains the way of the miracle.

The psalmist said, “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” It is remarkable that God, the creator of the universe, cares for humanity. And his care goes beyond mere regard. He restores and lifts humanity in spectacular fashion. Through miracles, God shows his deep concern for not only our spiritual well-being but also our physical, emotional, and social conditions. He does not just pity us. He restores us. This restoration is seen in the way Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, and miraculously fed thousands of people.

When God works a miracle, it glorifies him and dignifies the individual. It demonstrates that man is made in the image of God and that God is interested in restoring that image to its full glory. The healing of the crippled man was not just a physical restoration, but it was a sign that God regards humanity with deep care and is willing to intervene supernaturally to restore and uplift.

Faithless churches have abandoned the way of the miracle. They have reduced Christianity to a set of moral teachings and charitable activities. They have suppressed the fact that the gospel is a message of power. If they had ever believed in Jesus, they have betrayed and forsaken him.

We are called to embrace and proclaim the way of the miracle. This does not mean we abandon charity, but it means we must first seek and emphasize the supernatural power of God. The apostles had money, but they did not rely on it to demonstrate God’s glory. They relied on the power of the Holy Spirit, and miracles followed. The crippled man’s healing was a demonstration of God’s kingdom breaking into the natural order, showing that God’s way is greater than the world’s ways.

Miracles result in sincere and exuberant worship. The crippled man was healed, and he went with Peter and John into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. We too must worship God with energy and gladness. The Bible tells us to “make a joyful noise.” And if we want the nations to worship God in the same way, we must proclaim the way of miracle to as many people as we can, to the ends of the earth. On the other hand, faithless religious people who oppose the way of the miracle conspire to suppress genuine worship.

The way of the miracle is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is the solution to the world’s deepest problems. Charity can suppress the symptoms for a while, but it lasts a short time and helps very little. In fact, the disease will fester and become worse. Miracles solve the problem at its root, because it is an application of God’s truth and power.

This is why we must preach the gospel. The gospel is God’s power for forgiveness and rebirth, and healing, and supernatural provision. God’s way is greater than charity, greater than politics and social programs, greater than anything the world can offer. The way of the miracle glorifies God, dignifies humanity, and provides true solutions to the problems of humanity.