The apostle Paul describes two categories of people who should be anathema, or “eternally accursed”, as the NIV puts it. One category we all know about: those people who preach “a different gospel” (Gal. 1:6-9) should be anathema or accursed. But, most people do not realise that there is another category. In 1 Corinthians 16:22, Paul writes:
If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed [anathema] (1 Cor. 16:22, ESV)
Bad doctrine that obscures the true gospel, and a lack of love for the Lord, are both as bad as each other. A love for the Lord, with an abandonment of the biblical gospel, means nothing. Yet, so many regard a love for Jesus as a sufficient “bottom-line” for being a Christian. It is not. A love for the Lord is only of value if the ‘Lord’ is the person described by biblical revelation, and whose works are described by biblical revelation.
On the other hand, there are those who think a mental, vigorous assent to accurate biblical doctrine is sufficient to be a Christian. It is not. If anyone (including those with accurate Scriptural understanding and assent) has no love for the Lord, let him be anathema.
True biblical christianity requires a love for the Lord and a sound understanding of the gospel. God help me if I do not have either of these, and God keep me from thinking that possessing one in abundance makes up for the lack of the other.
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