Transcript
Speaker: Welcome to our channel, Gray Matters. We are two neurodivergent ladies who fixate and need to share, and we've created this channel to do just that.
Speaker: Did you know Micah Miller Francis' estranged husband, John Paul Miller, wrote a book about how not to go to hell? It's true. No, no, it no, no, no.
Speaker: no no no no no oh no no no Hell No was published in 2018 and can be purchased on Amazon.
Speaker: But please don't. We don't need to be giving this man or Solid Rock Church any money. We have questions as it is about how JP and Solid Rock use money given to them.
Speaker: This video is a lighter one with some snark mixed in. We are working on a video looking at the people suggested to us in comments for our other videos. For those of you who have suggested people to look into, please share any additional information you may have.
Speaker: Now, let's talk about the book. The Agatha May Detective Agency shared some shorts about the book already, so please go check those out. She's hilarious and so smart, so please go show her channel some love.
Speaker: What I wanted to do here is point out some key points from the book that highlight who we have learned JP is versus who he presents himself to be.
Speaker: Eventually, I'd like to speak with someone who has a strong background in theology and discuss the soundness of the biblical theology JP presents. Due to time constraints, you're stuck with me and my limited knowledge of the Bible.
Speaker: I should note that I am a believer, I regularly attend church, and I read my Bible every day. I pray on my own and with my family. Where does this love begin?
Speaker: In our own family, in our own home.
Speaker: How does it begin? By praying together. Family that prays together stays together. and if you stay together, you will love one another as God loves each one of you.
Speaker: My faith dictates loving your neighbor as yourself, and I strive to live that out. But I am not afraid of calling out so-called Christian leaders who twist the Bible to fit their own agenda.
Speaker: Weird, these people tend to be entitled white men who got a slight taste of power and allowed it to corrupt. But I digress. Let's start by talking about the aesthetic of the book, because I want to judge a book by its cover.
Speaker: First, I cannot read the title of the book without thinking of Todd Flanders adorably saying, hell no. So, you're welcome for that. Todd, would you like some mixed vegetables? Hell no. ah What did you say?
Speaker: said I don't want any damn vegetables. All right, that's it, young man. No Bible stories for you tonight. oh Oh, no.
Speaker: The cover gives me real If I Did It by OJ Simpson vibes. The subtitle of the book is, quote, everything you want to know about heaven, including how to be 100% sure that you'll live there.
Speaker: The back cover of the book is a big clue about JP. He says the book will change the reader's life, but only if the reader is willing to open up his or her heart to it. He also wants us to know that this book will only take you three hours to read.
Speaker: Three hours to change your entire life? What a bargain! He promises he will discuss deep topics at an easy level, but the topics will be exciting.
Speaker: Let's talk about the About the Author section. Wow. If we haven't explicitly said this yet, JP always refers to himself as, quote, Pastor JP or, quote, PJP if you're nasty.
Speaker: He describes himself as a, quote, very young, dynamic, and high-energy speaker. He says he lives in Myrtle Beach with his wife and five kids who all serve the church together.
Speaker: I think the way he phrased this suggests that the five kids are his with Micah. which obviously makes him look better as a pastor than the kids having two different mothers. He also adds that thousands of people in Myrtle Beach and beyond, quote, enjoy JP's transparent messages each week.
Speaker: Well, there is a copyright notice. Well, shruggy shoulders. I definitely didn't get, quote, prior written permission of the publisher, but I'm like 99% sure that this book is self-published.
Speaker: I assure you, if JP would talk to me, I'd have a lot of other questions for him besides if I can quote his book. One thing I do appreciate that he lays out is telling the readers the versions of the Bible he uses in the book. I appreciate the transparency as biblical translations matter in understanding the text.
Speaker: I do have concerns when an author uses many different translations in one book. Sometimes it is helpful to offer an additional translation of a verse to emphasize a point, but generally authors point that out within the text so the readers are aware.
Speaker: JP used four different translations and doesn't tell us what version he is using when he quotes scripture. My concern is that he wants to make scripture fit his narrative, and using different translations allows him to find the one that molds to his argument, instead of molding his argument to the scripture.
Speaker: Okay, back to Petty. The table of contents. My dude, it's a mess. He lists the chapter in one line, and the title of the chapter in a line below, both with the same page number corresponding to where the chapter starts.
Speaker: This would be fine if he didn't run out of room at chapter 9, which doesn't include the title of the chapter. Chapter 10 and its title just... aren't there. This brings us to the formatting of the book.
Speaker: It's not great. It is double-spaced and center-oriented. Double-spaced, I could possibly get on board with. Maybe he's trying to make his book more accessible to folks with visual impairments, but the center-oriented, not.
Speaker: I think JP thinks his book will stand out by changing the traditional page orientation. His way is better than hundreds of years of writing and publishing. Let's continue.
Speaker: There is a top margin, but no margin at the bottom. The text just hovers above the page number. Oh, and there's a period at the end of each chapter name.
Speaker: This is probably me being really petty, but I have done a bit of editing in my career, and this ain't it, my guy. Okay, into the actual book. I don't want to deep dive the book. I just don't.
Speaker: It wouldn't be useful to our ultimate goal of seeking justice for Micah and potentially many, many others. What I want to do is find the times where JP tells on himself.
Speaker: when he thinks more of himself than anyone else, how he feels about Micah and the other people around him, and how he positions himself to be. The introduction says that the church, meaning all Christians in the world, are spending too much time worrying about our present condition and not learning about eternity.
Speaker: We aren't learning about our destination and are wasting time with earthly concerns. As a believer, i think the earthly concerns of humans are vitally important, but I can't get on board with recognizing the necessity of trying to understand eternity.
Speaker: JP says that he has a list of many, many questions that he could have used in the book, but he narrowed it down. He says some of those questions he didn't include because he didn't have an answer, but some he says he simply didn't want to spend his time proving the answer to the reader.
Speaker: He tells the reader to do their own research. Many of the questions he lists out are fairly simple ones. When we're in heaven, will we wear clothes? Will we be with our pets? Will our animals talk? Many of the questions are much more intense as you'd expect.
Speaker: He states that the only emotions that will be experienced in heaven are quote, heavenly emotions. He says that there will be no feelings of disapproval, insecurity, lust, worry, doubt, disbelief, anxiety,
Speaker: anger, fear, bitterness. I think the specific ones he lists are interesting and they make me think that perhaps these are feelings that JP has struggled with.
Speaker: He says the way that we will be known in heaven is based on our earthly works in the name of Jesus. To me, this suggests works will be weighed more than faith when a person is trying to get to heaven.
Speaker: He does tell us that every hope and desire we've ever had will be fulfilled once we're in heaven. A point that JP makes in this section is questioning if people who die by suicide will go to heaven.
Speaker: He says, quote, This question is very dear to my heart, as I'm sure it is to yours. I've had several friends take their own lives and the answer to this question plagues me on a regular basis.
Speaker: I believe this about JP. I think this is a difficult question that he's had to wrestle with. He says that God doesn't give a clear answer because people would otherwise take their own lives to be in heaven.
Speaker: He goes on to encourage readers to turn to God instead of complaining about their difficulties in life. He discusses his right-hand woman's husband's death in this section. Trisha Ross's husband, John, passed away from cancer, and J.P. celebrates his willingness to faithfully serve the church even during cancer treatments.
Speaker: J.P. continues to talk about works by saying that a believer's works will be judged before being able to enter heaven. He goes so far as to say works will decide how people will spend their eternity, not their faith.
Speaker: He says that joining a church and serving faithfully is the easiest way to be rewarded in heaven. And I bet he knows just the church for you. Are you looking for a get-to-heaven-quick scheme?
Speaker: Join Solid Rock Church and do everything John Paul tells you. In fact, JP tells us that there are more people in heaven than in hell, and the lack of tithing to and serving of the local church is the top reason why you'll end up in hell.
Speaker: So make sure when you're being obedient to JP, you're making sure he's getting 10% of your paycheck.
Speaker: We do not give you permission to assume that we will pay for your share of the cost of ministry in our local church family. We all deeply love our church family.
Speaker: We love you enough to expect you to do your part to be a part of a church family. A final word from Pastor JP. Being a pastor over someone who does not tithe, I have learned that I cannot bless someone whom the Lord is determined to correct.
Speaker: That is one of the most painful lessons I have ever learned. Every single non-tither years later was less passionate for Jesus and bearing less fruit for Jesus.
Speaker: Knowing that this person is going to go backwards spiritually, no matter what I do, makes me very sad. There are hundreds of painful stories in my life from learning this lesson.
Speaker: However, I have now finally learned that I cannot bless someone whom the Lord is determined to correct.
Speaker: and trust JP. Being saved by Christ has made him naturally obedient to the Lord, so you should obey him. While describing what hell is like, JP brings up suicide again, saying hell is a place with no hope.
Speaker: He says, quote, when someone commits suicide, it's because Satan has deceived them into believing something that is true in hell, but a lie on earth. The deceptive thought is, there's no hope for me.
Speaker: The devil is a liar. While we are on earth, there is always hope. Later he says, quote, The only reason I haven't killed myself is because of God's amazing grace.
Speaker: JP really loves the story from the Bible about David. David was a man who claimed to be saved, but then also committed murder, sexual assault, and adultery, but eventually found favor with God when he repented.
Speaker: i think JP thinks he's a present-day David, but instead of having a true change of heart and spirit, he thinks he can repent after doing something horrible and he's all good. Later, he says that evil is present in the world because God gave us free will.
Speaker: I think he's forgetting that true repentance requires moral change and behavior demonstrates that change. themuel said your pride is as bad as witchcraft, you refuse instruction, you're no longer king.
Speaker: So that's referring to Saul. So Saul had every opportunity to obey God, every opportunity, and he wouldn't do it. Now listen real close. He had sons. One of his sons' name was Jonathan. Everybody say Jonathan. I taught you about him and David's relationship. They were best friends. Jonathan decided, even though my father's not serving God, I'm going to do the right thing.
Speaker: It is very difficult for people to choose the blessing and to choose to serve God when everything around them exists. is doing the wrong thing when everybody around them is doing the wrong thing it's very difficult again I'm sure some of you might have grown up in a house like that but thank God that you're here today so in 1st Samuel 19 2 Jonathan told David my father Saul is trying to kill you in 1st Samuel 20 verse 8 he said we made a covenant we'd always be friends I'll tell you what that means in a second Samuel 23 15 David was afraid because Saul came to kill him but Jonathan encouraged him said don't be afraid don't worry you're going to be the next king of Israel okay so can you see Jonathan doing the right thing even though his dad is doing the wrong thing
Speaker: They made a covenant relationship. What that covenant relationship meant was whatever is mine is yours and yours is mine. It also meant if you were to pass away, I'll take care of your family. And if I pass away, you take care of my family. Okay, that was the covenant that they had together.
Speaker: So... The book offers a couple of interesting points about relationships in JP's life. He doesn't directly discuss Micah really, but he does mention his father and children.
Speaker: He says that his father didn't want him to follow in his footsteps and enter ministry. This led to a falling out and the two men not talking for many years. JP says this cycle repeated and he had a falling out with one of his sons and they lost contact for many years.
Speaker: In all of our research, we've never found any accounts of either of these arguments, but perhaps they just weren't public. We weren't made privy to everything in John Paul's life. In terms of relationships, he says, quote, There is no relationship on Earth that will grow and develop if one of the two people is controlling, manipulating, mean, and always out to find fault.
Speaker: It is interesting that he can understand this, but he cannot recognize his own behavior and how we know he treated his wives. My biggest takeaway in reading JP's book is not the bad editing, poor choice in layout, or the overuse of punctuation and capitalization.
Speaker: It's how he sees himself. He is self-deprecating when it serves him, when he wants people to believe he's humble. thing to Hey, seriously, i cant I cannot get over how offended I am that somebody took my picture when my gut was hanging out. Okay, normally when I see the cameras, I suck in really good.
Speaker: So, um you dodos, I can't leave. yet he is unable to self-reflect on his own shortcomings, but will easily call others out on those same behaviors.
Speaker: He says he isn't a theologian, but is the pastor, so he should be elevated above us normies. Finally, I see the book as a big piece of propaganda to get people to attend, serve, and tithe to his church.
Speaker: More butts in seats means more cash coming in, and less work on his part. with depending on church members to volunteer their Sunday mornings so he doesn't have to. i think JP has been and continues to take advantage of good people who believe they are part of a Bible-living church.
Speaker: He takes their time, their gifts, their money, while performing as a man of God who will lead them to a blessed eternity in heaven. That is my opinion, and I will admit that I can't truly know anyone's heart.
Speaker: But I know what I've seen, and JP is always performing. And you can't trust a charlatan.
Speaker: Thank you for listening. Please comment, like, and subscribe. You can also check out our podcast, Fixate Today, Gone Tomorrow, for more content. Have anything you'd like us to fixate on?
Speaker: Reach out and let us know. Thanks for joining us.
Speaker: Disclaimer. We are not investigators, journalists, detectives, law enforcement, or historians. We are two neurodivergent ladies who just hyperfixate. Please do not take our opinions and ideas as statements of fact.
Speaker: All allegations are just that. We are not accusing any anyone of anything, simply offering our interpretation of what we've researched.
