Loving your enemies sometimes requires chopping down their sacred trees.

That was the approach of the missionary Boniface, who lived from 675-754. He successfully converted the Saxons by confronting their idolatry directly. The Saxons had been mixing elements of Christianity with their traditional pagan practices, most notably the worship of Thor, represented by a mighty oak tree. Boniface exposed the impotence of Thor by cutting down this oak tree and using its timber to build a church. This act, combined with Boniface’s evident love and concern for the Saxons, convinced the people to convert to Christianity.

In his recent article, Brandon Cooper says we need “The Boniface Option” for Christians today: confronting the false idols of modern society with the intent of revealing their powerlessness. Cooper warns against confusing the audience (society at large) with the enemy (the false idols), and emphasizes the need to approach this task with love, not hatred. “With timber from this felled tree, we don’t build a fortress against the world but a church that’s a hospital for the broken,” Cooper writes. “Even sinners and enemies find welcome here.”