Does Satan help people? (Jesus, ritual, homosexuals, hell, atheist)

[Faint]

Let's for the moment say that the Bible is extraordinarily accurate, and the devil exists. Do you think a person can contact him to gain favors? Does he help people become powerful/wealthy/famous etc. if they make a deal with him? Does there need to be a deal at all, or does he just stay behind the scenes "directing traffic" until someone who serves him (knowingly or otherwise) finds success in the world?

For instance, I was watching "The Ninth Gate" recently and the characters in the movie try to perform a ritual to meet the Prince of Darkness. Also, on my way to work today I was listening to White Zombie (Devil Music Vol.1). Does Satan make rock stars better lyricists/songwriters?

And if such deals can be made, do you think they can be broken and a person can be saved at the last second by asking Jesus for forgiveness and accepting him as their Savior yada yada?

[Willamena]

He helped Jesus.

[Faint]

Originally Posted by Faint

Let's for the moment say that the Bible is extraordinarily accurate, and the devil exists. Do you think a person can contact him to gain favors? Does he help people become powerful/wealthy/famous etc. if they make a deal with him? Does there need to be a deal at all, or does he just stay behind the scenes "directing traffic" until someone who serves him (knowingly or otherwise) finds success in the world?

For instance, I was watching "The Ninth Gate" recently and the characters in the movie try to perform a ritual to meet the Prince of Darkness. Also, on my way to work today I was listening to White Zombie (Devil Music Vol.1). Does Satan make rock stars better lyricists/songwriters?

And if such deals can be made, do you think they can be broken and a person can be saved at the last second by asking Jesus for forgiveness and accepting him as their Savior yada yada?

Hi Faint, I feel bad because few others have commented on this new topic of yours which I must say presents some intriguing questions.
Here are my thoughts:
1) If he did exist, I doubt the devil would care enough to get involved in human affairs, unless hell is really boring.

2) I don't think he would need to go around buying souls since plenty probably already go to hell as it is. Think of all the atheists, and feminists, and homosexuals, and liberals who must be burning in everlasting fire right now!

3) On the other hand, someone once said that the mind is its own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven. So maybe you would only go to hell if you believe you should. Therefore, you could probably get the wealth/fame you seek and then give Lucifer the finger when you die. This would be similar to maxing out your credit cards and then declaring bankruptcy.

4) I've heard that Jesus saves no matter how many children you've murdered, or how many women you've raped. So I imagine that he would also forgive you for dealing with the devil. So yes, you can have your devil's food cake and eat it too.

5) Oh I love White Zombie. Thunderkiss '65! Great song...But then The Killers are Mormon and they right good music too. Do you think that Jesus helps them with their songs?

[Faint]

Originally Posted by Willamena

He helped Jesus.

The tests? Or how do you mean?

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Faint

The tests? Or how do you mean?

Yes, the temptations.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Faint

Let's for the moment say that the Bible is extraordinarily accurate, and the devil exists. Do you think a person can contact him to gain favors? Does he help people become powerful/wealthy/famous etc. if they make a deal with him? Does there need to be a deal at all, or does he just stay behind the scenes "directing traffic" until someone who serves him (knowingly or otherwise) finds success in the world?
And if such deals can be made, do you think they can be broken and a person can be saved at the last second by asking Jesus for forgiveness and accepting him as their Savior yada yada?

Let's overlook for a moment that Satan and "the Devil" are two different cultural ideas, not really related to each other until the late 17th Century Europe. Let's instead say that the "accuracy" being looked for in the Bible is a literal truth, and that the Bible was never really intended to be read literally. Do I think a person can contact "the Devil" to gain favours from him? Sure; seeing as he is a personification of wickedness and selfishness, and humans are all capable of being wicked to their own benefit, it can happen.
In the sense that we indulge in wickedness and selfishness to our own benefit, "he" "helps" us "gain" power/wealth/fame/etc. He is hardly "in the background" if this is really the case. He's rather "in your face".
I do believe a person can be "rescued" by remorse and redemption.

[retrorich]

Does Satan help people?

Sure he does. "Get thee behind me, Satan--and push!"

[Ronald]

Yetzer Harah and the Yetzer Hatov, like an angel on the right sholder and the devil on the left sholder. It is the inclination to do evil, or to do good.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Faint

Let's for the moment say that the Bible is extraordinarily accurate, and the devil exists. Do you think a person can contact him to gain favors? Does he help people become powerful/wealthy/famous etc. if they make a deal with him? Does there need to be a deal at all, or does he just stay behind the scenes "directing traffic" until someone who serves him (knowingly or otherwise) finds success in the world?

If the devil existed, it depends on how you view what the devil is. In earlier lore, he's more like a prosecutor than a tempter. He's called the "Accuser" and is someone who brings the case against you that you didn't live according to God's Law.

The idea that the devil tempts people came much later.

Personally, I think we manage to find plenty of temptations without anyone's help. And while some people do get powerful and rich through nefarious means, I don't think it was because the devil granted them anything.

For instance, I was watching "The Ninth Gate" recently and the characters in the movie try to perform a ritual to meet the Prince of Darkness. Also, on my way to work today I was listening to White Zombie (Devil Music Vol.1). Does Satan make rock stars better lyricists/songwriters?

Ah, you'd have spent your time better reading the book it was taken from, "The Club Dumas" by Arturo Perez-Reverte. Definitely his best book. The movie bears little resemblence to the book, other than one subplot being the inspiration for it. Johnny Depp and Frank Langella make it worth a watch, though.

Oh, I don't think Satan makes rock stars better lyricists, but let's face it, there's more excitement in a song about a controversial and archetypal figure like Satan than there is in, say, some Mares and Does who eat Oats.

And if such deals can be made, do you think they can be broken and a person can be saved at the last second by asking Jesus for forgiveness and accepting him as their Savior yada yada?

I can't see how that's covered in Bible texts anywhere, but I'll be intersted to see what some of our fellow denizens come up with.