How faith turns a lion into a kitten

These evil spirits, which sow fear and discord, are currently very active. But those who believe can defend themselves. Here are three counter-forces drawn from a divine service by the Chief Apostle. 

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5: 8–9). This was the Bible text the Chief Apostle chose for a divine service on 28 June 2026 in Limete, Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

The two-pronged attack

The epistle of Peter is addressed to the early Christians in Asia Minor, who were facing hostility and persecution. He compares the situation to a herd threatened by a roaring lion.

The text attributes two characteristics to the predator, who embodies the evil one: he is the adversary (in Greek: antidikos) and accuses human beings before God. And he is the Devil (diabolos), who seeks to cause panic in order to scatter the flock and devour the isolated animals.

“What is the roaring lion for us today?” asked Chief Apostle Helge Mutschler.

How the lion roars today

On the one hand, there is the accuser with his accusations from within and without: “Look at yourself, how bad you are. You are a sinner.” And: “Look at what is happening in the world. If this God you believe in really exists, surely He should change all of this.”

And then, on the other hand, there is the devil, who seeks to sow discord—in the life of every individual, but also within the Church and society. “He wants to stir up conflict and division.”

But: “The Bible text is very comforting and gives us three counter-strategies against the roaring lion,” emphasised the Chief Apostle.

The first line of defense: a clear perspective

The first defensive measure:  be soberminded. And that means be realistic. Firstly, as far as we ourselves are concerned: “As sheep, you need the shepherd, Jesus Christ. As a sheep, you need the flock.”

And, secondly, from a realistic perspective with regard to the lion: “The devil prowls around like a roaring lion. He is not a lion who roars. He is merely putting on a show. He is an absolute nobody, who possesses no power of his own. He only has the power that we give him.”

The crucial point is: “There is only one true lion, and that is the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ.”

The second line of defense: rising and standing up

The second counter-strategy: to be vigilant. Sometimes we find ourselves lulled into a false sense of security by our sins: “But everybody does that.” Or by our own complacency: “I need my energy for myself. I cannot care for my neighbour.”

But today’s message is: “Be watchful,” urged the Chief Apostle. “Stand up, overcome sin, and care for your neighbour!”

The third line of defense: staying together

The third defensive measure: “Resist him with firm faith.” That means: “Stay with the good shepherd, Jesus Christ. And I need to say it: stay with the herding dogs. These are our ministers and Apostles.”

And of course: “Stay within the flock. Let us stay together. And let us stand up to this roaring lion, and let us all shout at him together, ‘We believe.’”

“What can a roaring lion possibly do if we act as the Bible says?” said Chief Apostle Mutschler in conclusion. “If we stay close to our Shepherd and stay together as a flock, the devil has no chance. He can only turn around and go away.”