A Capital Mistake

While reading The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, this writer came across an interesting statement. It occurred shortly after Sherlock Holmes explained some of his work to Watson. Holmes stated, “It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It biases the judgment.” Holmes is speaking of the importance of deductive reasoning, which is taking in all of the facts and coming to a conclusion. In the work in which Holmes undertook, it would be of the utmost importance to refrain from coming to a decision before taking in all of the evidence. Had his mind been made up concerning a case it would not matter what new evidence came his way. His mind would be fixated on this earlier decision, which would ultimately cloud proper judgment. This would cause the world’s greatest detective to make what could turn out to be a fatal error. Deductive reasoning is just as important to Christians as it was to Sherlock Holmes. In fact, God wanted Israel to use deductive reasoning so she could understand the poor spiritual condition she was in and how she could change. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). The phrase “Let us reason together” would denote a type of legal argument. Both sides would set forth arguments as evidence for a decision that was to be made. Israel did not know Him as her Lord and as a result had become a sinful nation (v. 3-4). He pointed to the punishment which she received as a result asking, “Why should you be stricken anymore?” (v5a). She had made a mockery of the feast days through her actions and refused to do justice for the poor and oppressed (v. 10-17). God having presented this as evidence of their sinful condition asks them to use their abilities to reason by saying, “Although you are stained with sin, I can make you clean.” “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” (Isaiah 1:19-20). Sadly, they did not use their ability to reason and were devoured as the mouth of the Lord had spoken. It is just as sad that many today refuse to use their ability to reason. Many use speculation, which is the act of only using some of the evidence to come to a conclusion. Before one comes to a decision based on the Bible, please take in all of the evidence available. One may suddenly find themselves convicted of a sin of which they were once ignorant. That same one may also come to understand the saving power of Christ and His ability to wash away those sins (Acts 22:16).

 WORKS CITED

Doyle, Arthur Conan; Ryan, Robert (2012-12-13). The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Kindle Locations 707-708).  . Kindle Edition.