You have probably heard of the Peter Principle, the theory that in organizations, workers tend to rise to the level of their incompetence. This phrase was coined in the mid-1960s by a educator, Dr. Lawrence Peter. We, chuckling or perhaps cursing under our breath, can all think of a boss or co-worker who fits this theory. "How did he get that job?"
But before I read about Dr. Lawrence Peter, I always wondered if the Peter Principle was biblically based. When I first started reading the Bible, Peter struck me as one of the least likely to be chosen to be the rock of the Church. Sometimes he certainly seemed incompetent. He wasn't the guy who always caught on the fastest (when Christ was going to wash his followers' feet, Peter asked for a whole bath--"wash my hands and feet as well") (John 13:6-11). He was also not fully trusting--he balked when Jesus told him to lower his fishing nets after a night of fishing without results (Luke 5:5). He was not even honest with Jesus all the time. Peter promised Jesus that he would never deny Him, but we know that he denied Christ three times (Matthew 26:35; 69-75). He could be very impetuous, for instance, cutting off the ear of the soldier when Christ was seized by the Roman officials (John 18:10-11). For this misdeed, Jesus reprimanded him, reminding Peter of Jesus' fate--"shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?"
In my mind, Peter seemed incompetent at times, less likely to be chosen the leader of the Church than, say, John, the beloved disciple of Jesus. So, how did he get that job?
In our current message series at Nativity, Tug of War, we are talking about the spiritual battle we all undergo. The message discussed how God speaks to us with specific, perhaps firm, but loving thoughts when we don't live up to His expectations or our talents, but the devil speaks to us with vague generalizations about ourselves, like "you're bad" or "you're stupid" or "you're incompetent." God's message is always laced with mercy; the devil's message is always heavy with condemnation and despair.
This past week, I felt quite incompetent in something I was handling. I had two different strains of thought. The first was "you are truly incompetent. How did you get this job?" These thoughts were vague, too general to be helpful, and full of despair. Later, I had some other thoughts. I thought, "you could have handled that situation differently if you were more merciful to another's situation" and "you could have controlled your tone of voice a bit better" (I also had flashbacks to my wise mother, telling me in my teenage years, "Kathleen, it is not what you say, it's how you say it"). Those thoughts were specific and firm but also laced with mercy and understanding that I am still loved even though I made some mistakes.
The first thoughts I had were not of a godly origin. They were unhelpful, and in fact, sent me in to a few-hour period of feeling angry and not worthy of the job was I charged with. The later thoughts were from God. I know that because they were healing, though not necessarily easy to accept, because I had made some mistakes. And I hate to admit that.
God spoke to Peter as he spoke to me in my thoughts--with a firm, guiding love to help me improve myself. So maybe we can recast the phrase "the Peter Principle." I propose it have a new meaning: that we are human and in that sense, we are incompetent compared to God, but if we listen to his positive yet firm direction, we can be the kind of disciples that Christ wants us to be.
It worked for Peter. Maybe it will work for me too.
But before I read about Dr. Lawrence Peter, I always wondered if the Peter Principle was biblically based. When I first started reading the Bible, Peter struck me as one of the least likely to be chosen to be the rock of the Church. Sometimes he certainly seemed incompetent. He wasn't the guy who always caught on the fastest (when Christ was going to wash his followers' feet, Peter asked for a whole bath--"wash my hands and feet as well") (John 13:6-11). He was also not fully trusting--he balked when Jesus told him to lower his fishing nets after a night of fishing without results (Luke 5:5). He was not even honest with Jesus all the time. Peter promised Jesus that he would never deny Him, but we know that he denied Christ three times (Matthew 26:35; 69-75). He could be very impetuous, for instance, cutting off the ear of the soldier when Christ was seized by the Roman officials (John 18:10-11). For this misdeed, Jesus reprimanded him, reminding Peter of Jesus' fate--"shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?"
In my mind, Peter seemed incompetent at times, less likely to be chosen the leader of the Church than, say, John, the beloved disciple of Jesus. So, how did he get that job?
In our current message series at Nativity, Tug of War, we are talking about the spiritual battle we all undergo. The message discussed how God speaks to us with specific, perhaps firm, but loving thoughts when we don't live up to His expectations or our talents, but the devil speaks to us with vague generalizations about ourselves, like "you're bad" or "you're stupid" or "you're incompetent." God's message is always laced with mercy; the devil's message is always heavy with condemnation and despair.
This past week, I felt quite incompetent in something I was handling. I had two different strains of thought. The first was "you are truly incompetent. How did you get this job?" These thoughts were vague, too general to be helpful, and full of despair. Later, I had some other thoughts. I thought, "you could have handled that situation differently if you were more merciful to another's situation" and "you could have controlled your tone of voice a bit better" (I also had flashbacks to my wise mother, telling me in my teenage years, "Kathleen, it is not what you say, it's how you say it"). Those thoughts were specific and firm but also laced with mercy and understanding that I am still loved even though I made some mistakes.
The first thoughts I had were not of a godly origin. They were unhelpful, and in fact, sent me in to a few-hour period of feeling angry and not worthy of the job was I charged with. The later thoughts were from God. I know that because they were healing, though not necessarily easy to accept, because I had made some mistakes. And I hate to admit that.
God spoke to Peter as he spoke to me in my thoughts--with a firm, guiding love to help me improve myself. So maybe we can recast the phrase "the Peter Principle." I propose it have a new meaning: that we are human and in that sense, we are incompetent compared to God, but if we listen to his positive yet firm direction, we can be the kind of disciples that Christ wants us to be.
It worked for Peter. Maybe it will work for me too.
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