Accepting/believing/following Jesus are all semantics. When we as protestants talk of accepting Christ. What we mean is that we accept the gift of salvation from Jesus. We accept it by believing He is the Son of God who died on the cross to save the world from our sins. He rose and defeated death on the 3rd day so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. So I agree with what you said, we just use different words, but it means the same thing.

Here is my argument about the laying of hands thing. Why isn't it written about in any of Paul's letters to the churches? He never instructs any of us to do lay hands or tells us that that is the only way to get the Holy Spirit. If this was something that was so necessary, then why isn't it in every letter to every church? God always repeats the very important things. Do not fear is written over a hundred times throughout Scripture for example. Jesus never once talks about laying hands. He heals people and tells them to sin no more. Their faith makes them well, etc. He is very clear that faith is what is needed.

And about Paul being ordained as a bishop or whatever. That is nowhere in the Bible. I go by what the Bible says alone, not on what a possibly corrupt church teaches outside of the Bible. I don't know where those teachings come from or who wrote about it or if it is true or not. If it's not in the Bible, I do not look at it as an example for how I am to behave or what we as the church are supposed to do. The Bible is very clear about having elders in charge or individual churches. So even if the apostles did do something different.... which ISN'T in the Bible, so I have my doubts, it's still not what God has instructed in actual Scripture.

We all know that history can be corrupted and changed at a whim. The word of God is above all things, which is why I only look at what the Bible says and not what could be corrupted by fallible men with their own agendas. So we may be at an impasse.