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Learned a little about the Sacred Heart icon (Catholic). It's apparently seen as a symbol of divine love and set in households so that that burning love can be emulated. They say love can keep you on the path to virtue, and prevent one from lapsing into sin.

But often love is used as an argument for universalism, tolerance for bad behavior, acceptance of migrants, welfare, and the like.

Can a Christian make the argument that love begins with one's home and emanates out from that? That just as love motivates you to protect your loved ones from invaders, it might also motivate you to protect your people, country, or heritage? That love, even divine love, might lead you to act in aggression or intolerance of certain people or behaviors?

Or is it pretty much all love thy invader?

Learned a little about the Sacred Heart icon (Catholic). It's apparently seen as a symbol of divine love and set in households so that that burning love can be emulated. They say love can keep you on the path to virtue, and prevent one from lapsing into sin. But often love is used as an argument for universalism, tolerance for bad behavior, acceptance of migrants, welfare, and the like. Can a Christian make the argument that love begins with one's home and emanates out from that? That just as love motivates you to protect your loved ones from invaders, it might also motivate you to protect your people, country, or heritage? That love, even divine love, might lead you to act in aggression or intolerance of certain people or behaviors? Or is it pretty much all love thy invader?

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[–] • 0 pt

I took some liberty with love thy invader. I know those aren't Jesus' words, but it seems to be the common (perhaps twisted) interpretation that popular opinion favors. If my question was offensive it wasn't meant to be. What I'm fishing for are some Christian reasons for Christians to show backbone and denounce weakness carried out in the name of love.

I do appreciate you citing some bible passages with your answer. I'd say the Luke and Ephesians quotes, while they evoke warlike imagery, seem to be referencing the battle of good against evil rather than protection of your bloodline or your people's interests (unless you define migrants masquerading as refugees to take advantage of welfare states as scorpions and snakes or schemes of the devil). Isaiah seems to be encouragement to deal with people fairly, which is good, but doesn't quite address self-defense.

Does the term icon not refer to a religious work of art? Is there a finer distinction?

[–] • 2 pts

I'm curious what do you think the intended message was when Jesus was turning over tables in the temple? Personally I see that as a defense of something. The question I'd ask is what? I have my answer but I'll keep it until I'm ready to write a full response to the original question.