“Core to what I believe about the message of Jesus, the life of Jesus, everything we know about Jesus, is that people matter most. How could his words be understood to say anything else? Love is the connection between God and God’s creation. To believe in God is to believe we are the children of love.”
–Jan Linn, Unbinding Christianity, p. 101
Unconditional love corresponds to one of the deepest longings of every human being. To be loved because of one’s merit (because I am a Christian) leaves doubt, if I don’t please the one who “loves” me I fear that love could disappear. Also “deserved” love leaves a bitter feeling that one is not loved for oneself, that one is loved because they are a good mother, wife, etc. and in the last analysis, not loved at all but used.