We agree entirely with this statement on its face, but it proves too much when applied to abolition and Church Repent activities. It could be used to argue against the preaching of the Gospel, Bible teaching from the pulpit, face to face sharpening and encouragement, eating food, taking a shower, brushing one’s teeth, and pretty much everything else in life.
You want to keep on living? You don’t need to eat. It will have to be God’s work that keeps me from starving to death.
It sounds so holy and pious, doesn’t it?
You want to keep your teeth in good health? Just rely on God – it will be His work that keeps them from rotting and falling out of your mouth.
You want people to come to faith in Jesus? Just rely on God – it will be His work. Just preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words, right?
No. God uses means to accomplish His purposes. He has told us to admonish and encourage each other in the body of Christ, to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. We are responsible and given strength to obey His commands.
This objection is actually designed to shame the abolitionist into simply not taking any action at all other than what the objector finds acceptable. It is literally fair to say that the abolitionist loves the church more than the objector. The objector wants to leave the sinner in his sin as though it were more loving not to talk to a brother about his sin.