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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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[–] • 1 pt

That is a very watered down and extremely misunderstood version of the Sacred Heart. It is not an "icon" in any way, it is a commissioning of families to dedicate living their life to a specific set of 12 values, along with a feast, and mediation of Christ. It stems from the feast of Corpus Christi. You can't extrapolate any theories (like you just tried to do) without first understanding what the Sacred Heart is.

First: There is a novena for the Sacred Heart. A novena is an ancient tradition of devotional praying consisting of prayers repeated for nine successive days or weeks. ... In the Catholic tradition, much used novena prayers include doctrinal statements in addition to a personal petition. Here is the .

Second: Here are the twelve values:

I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

I will give peace in their families.

I will console them in all their troubles.

I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.

I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.

Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.

Tepid souls shall become fervent.

Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.

I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.

I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.

Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.

In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.

Third, here is a great devotional that explains the more about the traditions: https://sacredheartdevotion.com/

Fourth, I don't know where you pick up "love thy invader"? Jesus says "love thy neighbor" but the context is completely different. The Bible repeatedly tells us to arm and guard our mind, spirit, families, homes, and boarders.

Luke 10:19 "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you."

Isaiah 1:17 "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."

Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."

[–] • 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.