Editing Christian countercult movement (section)

==Contextual missiology==
The phenomena of [[cult]]s has also entered into the [[Missiology|discourses of Christian missions]] and theology of religions. An initial step in this direction occurred in 1980 when the [[Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization]] convened a mini-consultation in [[Thailand]]. From that consultation a position paper was produced.<ref>''[http://www.lausanne.org/Brix?pageID=14647 The Thailand Report on New Religious Movements] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117192327/http://www.lausanne.org/Brix?pageID=14647 |date=17 January 2006 }}''</ref> The issue was revisited at the Lausanne Forum in 2004 with another paper.<ref>''[http://www.lausanne.org/lcwe/assets/LOP45_IG16.pdf Religious and Non-Religious Spirituality in the Western World] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117190244/http://www.lausanne.org/lcwe/assets/LOP45_IG16.pdf |date=17 January 2006 }}''</ref> The latter paper adopts a different methodology to that advocated in 1980.

In the 1990s, discussions in academic missions and theological journals indicate that another trajectory is emerging that reflects the influence of contextual missions theory. Advocates of this approach maintain that apologetics as a tool needs to be retained, but do not favor a confrontational style of engagement.<ref>Irving Hexham, Stephen Rost & John W. Morehead ed. ''Encountering New Religious Movements: A Holistic Evangelical Approach'', Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2004.Gordon R. Lewis, "Our Mission Responsibility to New Religious Movements" ''International Journal of Frontier Missions'' Volume 15, number 3 July–September 1998, p. 116.</ref>