The Peter Principle

(The first in a short series of what I hope will fire some synapses.)

Anybody remember reading about the Peter Principle back in the day? Published in 1969, it goes something like this: "People in a hierarchy tend to rise to the maximum level of incompetence." And its result is "In time, every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent to carry out his duties."

We all know someone who sits behind an important desk or wears a boss hat, and really has no business being there. That person did a good job in earlier postings and was rewarded with promotions, but eventually got into a position that is over his head. And things started to fall apart. The authors wrote the book intending it as satire, but oftentimes, fiction is reality. People started to look around and realize that "Joe" or "Janice" were living examples of the principle. But the still-efficient people who were still moving up tended to fix things where they could.

Organizations then changed their policies to deal with it, such as "Up or Out." The military was already using it. For example, I refused to make certain sacrifices in my military career and as a result, twice failed to promote to O-5. So I was retired. (The timing was great, by the way.) In the corporate world, early retirements are offered. Or in the case of takeovers, some employees aren't retained.

Unfortunately, some people reach their "Peter Plateau" relatively fast. Also unfortunately, others have their true potential and destiny artificially shut down. (See jealousy, nepotism, cancel culture, etc.)

(Next up: The Peter Principle and Politics)

Biden.

I'm tempted to leave that single name as my entire post on the Peter Principle in politics, but I owe you a little more than that.

Other than getting elected to something, can anyone remember a single accomplishment that can be credited to him? Some signature legislation, or a Profiles in Courage-like stand on some issue? As a senator and then vice-president, he didn't show the kind of excellence that would get him to the next level. Yet here he is with a half century in politics, at the top of the heap, in the company of giants like Washington, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Reagan. How did that happen?

We could say that sometimes it just happens by accident, but we know better. Why do citizens keep voting for those who can't handle the job, yet keep coming back like a dog to its vomit? Term limits are definitely needed, as money and the power of the incumbency keeps incompetent politicians in office far too long.

Could it be that nefarious characters who already wield extraordinary power were looking for a way to stealthily jump to the next level and figured out how to get there? Think Soros, Pelosi, Zuckerberg, and a slew of others. Nobody thinks Biden is running things. Who do you think is manipulating Joe's puppet strings?

I am non-partisan, owing my allegiance only to my Savior. Both major political parties have already hit their PP plateau, unable to advance, or even come up with, policies that truly help Americans. Let me paint a picture for you. Imagine a graph that has a line going steeply downhill at a 70-degree slant. That's America with Democrats in charge. Now change that line to a 60-degree downhill slant. That's when Republicans are in charge. Yet we loudly applaud the "improvement." What politicians have done over the years has been the single greatest contributor to all the problems we currently face today. But the Church was complicit, asleep at the wheel.

Next up: Culture and the Peter Principle.

What do ancient Hebrews, imperial Romans, czarist Russians and contemporary Americans have in common? They stepped away from what made them strong and instead indulged their wants and desires. Casting off reason and restraint, they dove headlong into hedonistic practices and destroyed a culture that made them strong. Is our country past the point of no return?

America's self-proclaimed elites have gained control of most of our institutions. A majority of the rest of us have lost faith in what we once unquestionably supported. Led by poor leaders, our government, education, the courts, the military, the medical profession and more are losing the respect they once universally held. Our culture has been turned upside down as right and wrong are reversed. The church is on the verge of being persecuted and has only itself to blame. We put our trust in politicians instead of God.

Man always tends towards rebellion against the current societal mores, leading him further away from the Creator. Our culture quarantines those in good health, kills unborn babies, legalizes psychedelic drugs, celebrates people who pretend to be another gender, and works towards legalized polygamy and pedophilia. It has created addictions ad nauseam, from porn to social media. How is it possible that every area of our culture is slouching towards Sodom and Gomorrah? Is everyone at the top of the aforementioned institutions incompetent? Or is a darker power responsible for it all?

If you've been paying attention, you know that the elites are working on a worldwide Great Reset. Well, God has his own ways to enact a great reset. We're way overdue for a well-deserved correction from the Father. We can cower and take the punishment, or we can get on our knees and pray for revival.

Next up: The Peter Principle and Christianity.

With fire in his eyes, Colonel Jessup yelled out, "You can't handle the truth!" Most of us have probably seen that movie. He was keenly aware of the challenges and dangers that faced America, and he stepped up to face them. Unfortunately, he made one bad decision and everything crashed down around him.

After three years of travelling with and learning from the Messiah, Peter knew the challenges and dangers, too. He had fire in his eyes on more than one occasion. And he, too, made one bad decision. But thank you, Jesus, for your mercy, grace and forgiveness.

Peter went on to be the first to preach on the importance of the Holy Spirit. What he said that day in Jerusalem prompted thousands to begin a new church. Not long afterwards, he participated in an astonishing healing which caught everyone's attention. When he had it, he preached on Jesus the Messiah. And as persecution began, Peter said that we must obey God rather than men.

On a recent trip to Seattle, I heard a pastor say that only 4 of the 25 Assembly of God churches started in the area in the 50s and 60s are still around today. I was there in the next decade, and I have to say that the churches I've attended in the last 20 years have been missing something.

I'm pretty good at proclaiming God the Creator. I love to share the love of Jesus with kids. But the power of the Holy Spirit? Not so much. Is it possible that we have become too sophisticated for the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives and in the church? Forgive me, Lord. Moving forward, how can we better advance the kingdom of God?

The (original) Peter Principle. Preach the whole Gospel...God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Follow and live out the whole Trinity to recapture our first love and our zeal. No more looking to those who have plateaued for the answers to our problems. The wisest man of all time once said that there's nothing new under the sun. Shouldn't we have looked more to Scripture for the answers to our problems? Can't we now?