ANATHEMA OR MARANATHA?
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
I Corinthians 16:22
The great apostle in a day when unbelieving Jews were calling Jesus accursed throws back the anathema with power. Then he takes an Aramaic term, which the scholars have argued over as to whether it means the Lord has come or “May he come!”
These two words, spelled with almost the same letters, set forth two viewpoints poles apart. There are millions today whose mark might well be anathema. They blaspheme the Lord and they are accursed. False preachers of “another Gospel” are anathema. The bitter hostility of long ago boiled over in that word.
Over against that is the love that said instead, “Jesus is Lord,” and, looking for His return, cried, “Maranatha.” Looking for the Lord was a distinguishing mark of first-century Christianity. Strange and sad it is that so many who claim to love Him today do not thrill to “The Lord cometh.”
Are you Anathema or Maranatha? Which is the cry of your soul?