When trying to disciple new believers or retain old ones, we must work with "what we've got." Post-modern thought does not accept absolutes nor embrace generalities.
The problem, as I see it, is that human thinking works by grouping like ideas together and forming generalities. A closed minded person is not alert to exceptions or mistaken generalities. But the other extreme, rejecting generalities, runs contrary to wisdom.
According to Proverbs, wisdom is to be sought, and part of wisdom's acquisition is to learn and embrace proverbs, which are generalities (not promises, but generalities):
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young- let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance- for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
(Proverbs 1:2-7)
If it is true that post-modernism (and its "Christian" incarnation, the Emergent Church, McClaren, etc.) rejects generalizations and absolute truth,
And if wisdom comes partly by embracing proverbs (accurate generalizations), then are we right to see these movements as creating a "wisdom shortage?'
If so, does this suggest we need to put more emphasis on the attainment and hunger for wisdom? What are your thoughts.
to destabilize other concepts such as presence, identity, historical progress, epistemic certainty, and the univocity of meaning.
This is precisely what I mean. If you cannot be certain that you know (and do not believe anyone can know with certainty), then proverbs and generalities cannot logically guide you. Those who wrote them could be wrong, our understanding of them varies with our culture and era, and their meaning is not fixed. Everything is pretty much next to worthless as far as "resting" upon them. You can dabble with them as theories or for personal enjoyment, but they are not anchors, but floating inner tubes.
"The Midrash Detective"