"Frank was Demon Possessed" Harold Ristau Interview

September 18, 2025

00:00 01:10:52

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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

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Meet Your Host

Becket Cook was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He attended Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas. After graduating from college, Becket moved to Los Angeles. He worked as a production designer with the top photographers and directors in the world on fashion shoots for magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and for ad campaigns such as Gap, L'Oréal Paris, and Nike.

Becket lived as a gay man his entire adult life until he came to faith in Christ in 2009. He has lived all over the world in major cities such as Rome, Vienna, and Tokyo, and spends much of his time in ministry, speaking at churches, universities.

Becket graduated from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in 2017 with a Master of Arts in Theology. His book, A Change of Affection: A Gay Man's Incredible Story of Redemption, with a foreword by Francis Chan, published by Thomas Nelson, released July 30, 2019.