day no. 16,080: brake for conventions, keep with commandments

“This man's spiritual power has been precisely this, that he has distinguished between custom and creed. He has broken the conventions, but he has kept the commandments.” -- G.K. Chesterton, Manalive

Question convention, keep the commandments.

Discernment requires one to question that which does not find its origin and source in the one, true, eternal, Triune, Christian God. This does not mean a whole-hearted rejection of any and all convention, but rather a consideration and standard to be applied to any and all convention. Either your conventions will be measured by the Commandments or the Commandments will be measured by your conventions. And it bodes well here to be reminded just how much God despises false weights and measures. (Lev. 19:35-37, Pr. 11:1, 20:10, 20:23)

The commandments of God, however, should be kept. They don't require one to keep them unquestioningly, but they do insist that one keeps them while they ask their questions. If an instruction is given, it must be obeyed. The reasoning for it can be inquired of while one is in the act of obeying, but one cannot wait to obey or delay compliance until a sufficient explanation is drawn out of God. It's good to remember who owes Whom what. Explanations are a grace of God to us. Obedience is our debt owed to Him.

All that to say, in matters of convention, question before you obey; in matters of commandment, obey before you question

Brake for convention, keep up with commandments.