"Take care of yourself." Jehovah's Witnesses say this is wrong?

Did you know that JWs would lecture me for telling someone "Take care of yourself?" They would say that taking care of yourself is selfish, and if you get right down to it, evil. This scripture, however, seems to say otherwise. 

 "But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life." Jude 1:20

"You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed." "Simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." -- Luke 11:41-42; 2 Corinthians 11:3

James Beadle:

"The arrogance lies in deciding what we wish to accept from Gods words. The creation story makes no sense to our logic, so clearly it must be wrong, or just an expansive allegory. This bread doesn't look like flesh, so my reason tells me Jesus must have meant something else than what he actually said. Election and free will cannot coexist, human reason rejects it, so we must choose one over the other, ignoring the scriptures that do not support the position we choose (as opposed to living in the tension and admitting that some things are a mystery to us and God never lies in His word). No, the arrogance is all ours when it comes to making up our own stories instead of accepting the words God has given us in the scriptures."

Spencer’s history of Kentucky Baptists in the 19th century, p. 276-278:

David Thurman was born in Woodford county, Kentucky, August 12, 1792. At the age of ten years, he was left an orphan and went to live with an elder brother, who put him to keeping bar in a tavern. He was a youth of great energy, and was fond of books. He pursued his studies with the same enthusiasm that characterized him when horse racing and playing cards.

But his wild career was suddenly cut short, in his nineteenth year, by the preventing grace of God. He was overwhelmingly convicted of sin, and after a brief but agonizing struggle he found great peace and joy, in trusting in Jesus. He was baptized by David Elkin into the fellowship of Good Hope church. Soon after his baptism, he began to exhort his former companions in sin to repent and believe the gospel.
Meanwhile, he studied theology under Nathan Hall, a distinguished Presbyterian preacher. In 1814 he was ordained to the ministry and was soon called to the care of Stewards Creek and Hardins Creek churches in Washington county. In the spring of 1818, he moved to what is now LaRue county, and gave his membership to Nolin church, of which Alexander McDugal was pastor.
Of this church Mr. Thurman at once became the working pastor, and, on the death of the aged incumbent, was formally called to that position. He also accepted the care of Mill Creek in Nelson county and Rhodes Creek, in Hardin county. His removal to the territory of Salem Association marked a new era in the history of that ancient fraternity.
In 1828, after a season of coldness in the churches, which had continued many months, Thurman became greatly afflicted because of the spiritual chill that pervaded the churches of Salem Association. He did not, however, diminish his labors, but increased them. Laboring from house to house, night and day, God’s presence began to be manifest among the people on Barren Run.
The revival spread rapidly, and soon a large number were baptized at Nolin church. During this revival, Mr. Thurman was assisted by William M. Brown, then an active young preacher.
At Nolin church one Saturday, Mr. Thurman appeared very despondent. There had been a long dearth, and the pastor’s heart was discouraged. He told the church that his labors had not been blessed; it probably was not the will of the Lord that he should labor among them, and advised them to procure another pastor. He sat down, and a profound and painful silence ensued.
Among the members present was the aged widow of John LaRue, after whom LaRue county was named. She was one of those noble Priscillas with whom God occasionally blesses his churches. She had sat humbly listening to every word the pastor said, until he sat down.
After a few moments of profound silence, she straightened herself up, and pointing one finger directly at the minister, said, in a strong emphatic tone:
“Brother Thurman, I’ll tell you what the matter is — Stop preaching John Calvin and James Arminius, and preach Jesus Christ.”

After a few moments, Mr. Thurman arose, with the tears streaming down his cheeks, and repeated the text: “For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

What I have now: IMAGES OF HOPE

I wanted to follow up those horrible images with the images I have now that I have the True God.

When I was not a Christian, why didn't God answer my prayers?

I was praying to the wrong God. I was worshiping in the wrong way. If He answered my prayers then what kind of lesson would that have taught?

But when I agreed to let Jesus lead me, He did. He led me to the true Gospel and the truth of who He was by teaching me with the Roman Road to Salvation, the book of  1 John, and John chapters 4, 7, and 14.

And even before then, I can see how God the Father was slowly leading me to Jesus. John 6:44

TRIGGER WARNING Jehovah's Witnesses: IMAGES OF FEAR

 

"I and the Father are one"

I get it! "All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.'" John 16:15

The Father and the Son have the same one Spirit!!! Romans 8:9; Ephesians 4:4

Wow, I just love it when a connection clicks! ♥

The Jehovah's Witnesses-- A Cult?

Watchtower 1894 July 15 p.227 "… Our readers are writing to know if there may not be a mistake in the 1914 date. They say that they do not see how present conditions can hold out so long under the strain."

Watchtower 1941 September 15 p.288 "Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon."

Watchtower 1938 November 1 p.324 "...mark the words of Jesus, which definitely seem to discourage the bearing of children immediately before or during Armageddon"

Face the Facts (1938) pp.46-50 "Would it be Scripturally proper for them to now marry and to begin to rear children? No, is the answer, which is supported by the Scripture…. Those Jonadabs who now contemplate marriage, it would seem, would do better if they wait a few years, until the fiery storm of Armageddon is gone..."

Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15 "If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things."

Awake! 1974 November 8 p.11 "The evidence is that Jesus' prophecy will shortly have a major fulfillment, upon this entire system of things. This has been a major factor in influencing many couples to decide not to have children at this time."

Kingdom Ministry May 1974 p.3 How Are You Using Your Life? "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end."

Awake! 1989 May 8 p.13 What Career Should I Choose? "A university degree may or may not improve your employment prospects. But one fact is indisputable: "The time left is reduced"! (1 Corinthians 7:29) For all its presumed benefits, would four years or more in a university be the best use of that remaining time?-Ephesians 5:16."


"Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom." The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah p. 216

"Some of that "generation" could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that "the end" is much closer than that!" Watchtower 1984 March 1 pp.18-19

Matthew 24:45 “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave ... 48 “But if ever that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’49 and should start to beat his fellow slaves ... 50 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, 51 and will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where weeping and the gnashing of teeth will be.