Support The Becket Cook Show on Patreon!

NOTE: When you sign up for Patreon, PLEASE do it through a web browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.) and NOT an app on your iPhone. The Apple app charges 30% !!! If you just click on the link above, it should be fine. 

In today's episode, Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau—parish pastor, former military chaplain, missionary, and seminary professor, now at Luther Classical College—joins Becket Cook to unpack his new book, "Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance: How to Minister to the Demonically Oppressed and Possessed." They tackle why modern skepticism about demons persists, how rationalism distorts a biblical worldview, and why deliverance belongs to the pastoral office. Dr. Ristau explains the difference between oppression and possession, the role of Scripture, fasting, and humility, and why deliverance is more “art + science” than a mechanical formula.

You’ll hear practical counsel for house cleansing, using sacred Scripture aloud, and building a post-deliverance life (church, Word, prayer). Dr. Ristau walks through the “RAT principle” (trap, kill, remove the crumbs), cautions against turning psychology into a catch-all, and even weighs in on the “aliens” question through a spiritual lens. If you’re looking for sober theology with concrete tools for real spiritual battles, this conversation is both bracing and deeply pastoral.

The Becket Cook Show Ep. 213

Support The Becket Cook Show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/thebecketcookshow">Patreon</a>!
NOTE: When you sign up for Patreon, PLEASE do it through a web browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.) and NOT an app on your iPhone. The Apple app charges 30% !!! If you just click on the link above, it should be fine.&nbsp;
In today's episode, Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau&mdash;parish pastor, former military chaplain, missionary, and seminary professor, now at Luther Classical College&mdash;joins Becket Cook to unpack his new book, "Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance: How to Minister to the Demonically Oppressed and Possessed." They tackle why modern skepticism about demons persists, how rationalism distorts a biblical worldview, and why deliverance belongs to the pastoral office. Dr. Ristau explains the difference between oppression and possession, the role of Scripture, fasting, and humility, and why deliverance is more &ldquo;art + science&rdquo; than a mechanical formula.
You&rsquo;ll hear practical counsel for house cleansing, using sacred Scripture aloud, and building a post-deliverance life (church, Word, prayer). Dr. Ristau walks through the &ldquo;RAT principle&rdquo; (trap, kill, remove the crumbs), cautions against turning psychology into a catch-all, and even weighs in on the &ldquo;aliens&rdquo; question through a spiritual lens. If you&rsquo;re looking for sober theology with concrete tools for real spiritual battles, this conversation is both bracing and deeply pastoral.
The Becket Cook Show Ep. 213

The Becket Cook Show was created by Becket Cook to discuss relevant topics and to crush the lies of culture with truth. Becket Cook was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from college, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of writing and acting, finding success in both. He eventually became a production designer working on fashion shoots for brands such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Gap, L'Oréal Paris, and Nike. Becket lived as a gay man until 2009, when he reluctantly agreed to attend a church service at which he was transformed by the gospel and gave his life to Christ. He also knew that homosexuality was a sin and that he could no longer live that life. Becket spends much of his time in ministry speaking at churches, universities, and conferences helping people understand this issue biblically, theologically, culturally, and personally. Becket graduated from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in 2017 with a Master of Arts in Theology.

The Becket Cook Show was created by Becket Cook to discuss relevant topics and to crush the lies of culture with truth. Becket Cook was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from college, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of...

The Becket Cook Show

The Becket Cook Show was created by Becket Cook to discuss relevant topics and to crush the lies of culture with truth. Becket Cook was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from college, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of writing and acting, finding success in both. He eventually became a production designer working on fashion shoots for brands such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Gap, L'Oréal Paris, and Nike. Becket lived as a gay man until 2009, when he reluctantly agreed to attend a church service at which he was transformed by the gospel and gave his life to Christ. He also knew that homosexuality was a sin and that he could no longer live that life. Becket spends much of his time in ministry speaking at churches, universities, and conferences helping people understand this issue biblically, theologically, culturally, and personally. Becket graduated from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in 2017 with a Master of Arts in Theology.

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