Frameworks for Christians

(For Discerning Doctrines, Discussions, and Debates)

The ‘5‑lens framework’ for doctrine matched with a ‘C.U.R.E framework’ for dialogue

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A Five-Lens Framework for Faithful Christian Discernment and Doctrine

Before turning to specific texts, this resource intentionally suggests working through five lenses, in a particular order, to encourage respectful and faithful discussion as iron sharpens iron:

1. Scripture and Interpretation – Hermeneutics
   (Biblical theology/story, exegetical theology, historical theology, systematic theology, and pastoral theology)
2. Experience of God’s Character
   As born-again, Spirit-filled believers who know God personally
3. Church Tradition
   From the first century through today, including creeds, councils, and theologians
4. Reason and Logic
   Careful thinking, philosophical coherence, and moral reasoning—submitted to God
5. Intuition and Emotion
   Our moral instincts and feelings, brought under the lordship of Christ

This framework does not place experience, tradition, intellect, intuition or emotion above Scripture. Rather, it acknowledges that faithful Spirit-led Christians inevitably read Scripture through all five lenses, and that wisdom comes from rightly ordering them and humbly holding them before God.

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Lens 1 – Scripture (With Five Theological Sub‑Lenses drawn from Goldsworthy’s book ‘According to Plan’)

Headline question:
What does Scripture teach, when read carefully and coherently, in the light of its whole story and context?

1A. Biblical Theology – Whole‑Bible Narrative

Question: How does this issue fit into the entire biblical storyline and Christ-centered?

• Read the Bible as a unified narrative of creation, fall, promise, redemption through Christ, mission, final judgment, and the new heavens and earth.

• Ask:

  • Where does this doctrine or interpretation sit in the movement from Genesis to Revelation?

  • How does it relate to key turning points (Abrahamic promises, slavery, Exodus, Mosaic covenant and law, exile, oppression, Jesus’ life/death/resurrection, the new covenant, the kingdom, Pentecost, final judgment, new creation)?

• Aim: avoid proof‑texting by letting the whole narrative shape how you understand any one passage or doctrine.

1B. Exegetical Theology – Author, Audience, Context

Question: What does this specific passage mean in its own literary and immediate context?

• Ask:

  • Who is the human author?

  • Who is the original audience?

  • What is the literary form (narrative, poetry, prophecy, parable, gospel, letter, allegory, symbolic or apocalyptic)?

  • What is the immediate context—what comes before and after, and what problem or question is being addressed?

• Aim: honour each passage on its own terms, before importing later theology or our own assumptions.

1C. Historical Theology (Time of the Writing)

Question: What was happening historically when this book was written?

• Ask:

  • What was going on in Israel’s history or the early church at this time?

  • What political, social, and religious realities shaped how the original readers would have heard these words?

  • Are there Old Testament or earlier biblical backgrounds that shed light on this text?

• Aim: read Scripture in its original historical situation, not as if it dropped straight into our modern world.

1B and 1C together keep interpretation grounded in both textual and historical context.

1D. Systematic Theology – Coherence of Doctrine

Question: How does this fit with the rest of what the Bible teaches?

• Ask:

  • How does this doctrine relate to other core doctrines (e.g. Trinity, incarnation, sin, salvation, the new covenant, the church/God’s people, eschatology/last things)?

  • Does this interpretation conflict with clear teaching elsewhere, or does it harmonise with it?

  • If there’s tension, is that because of our reading and interpretation, or because the Bible itself holds a mystery we must accept?

• Aim: let Scripture interpret Scripture, building coherent, balanced doctrine rather than isolated ideas.

1E. Pastoral Theology – Transformation and Practice

Question: How should this truth shape the life of believers and the church?

• Ask:

  • How does this doctrine form and transform disciples—character, worship, relationships, mission?

  • How should it be taught and applied in preaching, counselling, discipleship, and community life?

  • Does the way we teach it reflect the tone and purpose of Scripture itself (comfort, warning, correction, hope)?

• Aim: move from “what this means” to “how this changes how we live under Christ’s lordship.”

Together, 1A–1E keep “Scripture” from being a single, flat lens and turn it into a rich, multi‑angled way of listening to God’s Word.

Lens 2 – Experience

Headline question:
How does this doctrine intersect with lived Christian experience—without letting experience overrule Scripture?

• Consider:

  • Personal and communal experiences of God’s work and presence

  • Testimonies across cultures and eras

  • The real spiritual effects of holding or teaching a doctrine (e.g. hope, despair, legalism, freedom)

• Use experience as data to reflect on, not as a final authority. If experience clashes with Scripture, Scripture corrects experience; if experience resonates with Scripture, it can confirm and illuminate.

Lens 3 – Tradition and Church History

Headline question:
How has the church understood and articulated this doctrine through history?

• Look at:

  • Early church fathers, councils, creeds, confessions

  • Denominational statements and catechisms

  • Major debates and shifts (e.g. influence of philosophy, culture, or reform movements)

• Ask:

  • Where is there strong, longstanding consensus and does this line up with scripture or is it mere tradition?

  • Where has there been legitimate diversity within orthodoxy?

  • What past distortions or overreactions should we avoid repeating?

• Aim: learn from the wider body of Christ across time, treating tradition as a wise conversation partner, not as equal to Scripture, but to test with scripture.

Lens 4 – Intellectual Reasoning

Headline question:
Is this doctrine logically and theologically coherent?

• Ask:

  • Does this view hang together logically, or does it create contradictions?

  • Can it account for all the relevant biblical data, not only a select few texts?

  • Is it consistent with our best understanding of God’s character and ways as revealed in Scripture?

• Use reasoning to:

  • Expose hidden assumptions

  • Identify false dilemmas or sloppy arguments

  • Clarify implications and guard against incoherence

• Aim: serve faith by using clear thinking in submission to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. Love the Lord with all your heart, MIND, soul, and strength.

Lens 5 – Emotions and Intuition

Headline question:
What do my emotional and intuitive reactions reveal, and how should they be refined by Scripture and the Spirit?

• Notice:

  • Emotional responses: comfort, anger, fear, relief, awe, resistance

  • Intuitive reactions: “This seems right/wrong,” “This fits/doesn’t fit with what I know of Jesus.”

• Ask:

  • Are my reactions shaped by Scripture and the Spirit, or by culture, trauma, pride, or fear?

  • Do my emotions highlight real pastoral dangers in how a doctrine is used (e.g. spiritual abuse, despair, presumption)?

• Aim: neither idolise emotions nor ignore them, but let them be brought under Christ, informing how we teach and hold doctrine with love. Love the Lord with all your HEART, mind, soul, and strength.

One‑Line Summary of the Framework

1. Scripture (A–E: Biblical, Exegetical, Historical, Systematic, Pastoral theology)
2. Experience
3. Tradition and Church History
4. Intellectual Reasoning
5. Emotions and Intuition

This structure works for any doctrine or hermeneutical question (Trinity, atonement, spiritual gifts, law and gospel, covenant or dispensational or new covenant theology, eschatology, etc.), and gives you a clear way to show people:

• Scripture is primary, but read in a deep, multi‑layered way (1A–1E).

• The other four lenses (experience, tradition, reason, emotion) are important to reflect on but secondary, always tested and shaped by Scripture.

The C.U.R.E Conversation Practice for Christian Dialogue

Drawing on Dr John Warlow’s The CURE for Life model, this practice encourages believers to approach disagreement in a way that reflects Christ’s character and the Spirit’s work in us.

1. C – Connect with Curiosity

• Begin by connecting in a spirit of genuine curiosity, not suspicion.

• Ask open questions about the other person’s story, experiences, and how they came to their view, rather than assuming you already know their motives or background.

• Curiosity slows defensiveness and opens space for the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts.

“Tell me how you came to see this passage that way?” is better than “Why are you denying what the Bible clearly says?”

2. U – Understand with Undivided Attention

• Intentionally seek to understand before you seek to be understood.

• Offer as close to undivided attention as possible: listen without interrupting, avoid mentally preparing your rebuttal while they are still talking.

• Check your presuppositions: don’t project your own fears or past experiences onto them; instead, reflect back what you heard and ask if you’ve understood correctly.

A simple step: “So, if I’m hearing you right, you’re saying… Have I understood you?”

3. R – Respond with Respect, Reason, and Kindness

• Respond only after you have genuinely listened and understood.

• Speak with respect (they are made in God’s image), reason (clear, thoughtful engagement with Scripture and theology), and kindness (fruit of the Spirit).

• Avoid caricatures and cheap shots; represent their position as they would recognise it, even as you offer critique.

The aim is not to “win the argument” but to serve the person and honour Christ in how you speak.

4. E – Evaluate and Engage the Spirit’s Help

• Continually evaluate how the conversation is going:

  • Am I really listening well?

  • Am I understanding accurately?

  • Am I articulating my view clearly and fairly?

• Do this in conscious dependence on the indwelling Holy Spirit, through prayer, asking him to:

  • lead both of you into truth

  • guard your tone and your heart

  • produce fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self‑control).

Quiet, in‑the‑moment prayers like “Lord, help me listen… help me speak truth in love” embody this E step.

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In this way, the 5‑lens framework for doctrine is matched by a CURE framework for dialogue:

• Connect with curiosity

• Understand with undivided attention

• Respond with respect, reason, and kindness

• Evaluate while engaging the Holy Spirit

This combination helps Christians handle with grace even deeply contested topics in a way that honours both truth and love.