God is love: This is no joke

What's the gospel in seven words? We asked theologians, pastors and others both to answer this question and to
expand on this in a few sentences. To see all the responses together as they're posted, bookmark this page. Add your own version here. --Ed.

God is love: This is no joke.

We use flippancy and
irony (see above) to shield ourselves from feeling. We relegate love to the
realm of the romantic and sentimental, and dismiss it. But gospel love brings
us to our senses. The love epitomized in Jesus Christ is serious and demanding,
merciful and not judgmental. It is life-giving and self-sacrificing. It is love
that sees and tells the truth, whatever the cost. In Jesus we find the love of
God.