United Church of Christ Daily Devotional 6th August 2025 Wednesday Message
A Time for Creeds
By Mary Luti
[Jesus] said to them, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but [God] in heaven.” – Matthew 16:15-18 excerpt (NRSV)
When Jesus asks who his disciples believe him to be, Peter declares, “You are the Christ!” It’s a truth claim. A creed. And Jesus likes it.
Please support 5dailydevotional.com so we can continue publishing impactful and uplifting content daily. GIVE HERE
Which is instructive, because many progressive Christians don’t like creeds. We regard them as coercive, oppressive, divisive. And ultimately superfluous. Deeds matter, not creeds. Don’t believe, we say, follow.
Yet Jesus poses this creedal question precisely to his followers: Who am I to you? Why am I worth your loyalty, your activism, your life? What do you believe?
Just by asking, he challenges our mantra that following is enough. Clarifying and confessing beliefs matters, too. If we don’t, we cede creeds to the powerful and the cruel. Theirs will be the only truth claims the world hears.
We may not like creeds, but everyone has one. Some are demonic, corrosive and distorted, and more willing to persecute than any historic Christian creed has ever been.
So, what’s ours?
You, Jesus asks, what do you say is real? What matters to you ultimately? On what ground do you stand?
Jesus isn’t alone in asking. All the victims of this current oppression also want to know. They need to hear our faith, clear, bold, public, communal, repeated, untiring, and Hell-rattling with conviction.
Injustice is tenacious and routine. Professing our creed should be, too. Aspiration, testimony, protest, and praise: This we believe, not that.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, give us graced clarity and a strong common purpose to testify in word as well as deed against the powers that are killing us.
About the AuthorMary Luti is a long time seminary educator and pastor, author of Teresa of Avila’s Way and numerous articles, and founding member of The Daughters of Abraham, a national network of interfaith women’s book groups.
