At its most basic level, syncretism is the combination or synthesis of two beliefs or belief systems. The term is most often used negatively in a missions context as efforts to synthesize Christianity with outside beliefs inevitably undermine the integrity of the gospel message and the unity of scripture. Although the motives behind syncretism may appear to be virtuous — a desire for relevance or to not to cause offense — the resulting incoherence and confusion is far more damaging than the risk of offense or irrelevance.