Which political system fits the Beatitudes best?

[mindlight]

There are various political systems in the world right now that claim to have been influenced by Christianity.

I have listed 4 examples that have a claim to the best fit with the Beatitudes. But which is the best fit of the four?

1) German welfare state and social democracy.

German law accepts life begins at conception. The political system balanced enterprise with social concern. It looks after the poor, the sick, the old, and the exiled. It is strict on freedom of religion and one of the least violent societies on earth with a low murder and rape rate. It is more a peacemaker than a military power. But there is no official endorsement of God by this political system which is secular in tone.

2) Christian nationalism USA

Pre-Roe v Wade one could argue that political instincts and governance were most heavily molded by Christianity. Christian nationalism today seems both a throwback to that era and also something more aggressive and radical in tone. The current government of the USA clearly has little to do with Christianity and there is a strict church-state separation. Welfare depends in the main on whether or not individuals paid into the system and so it is not universal or comprehensive. Abortion is mainly legal and Christianity is marginalized or penalized in many states. But would Christian nationalists restore anything like the kind of society advocated for in the Beatitudes with its emphasis on low taxes and low welfare spending? Is social concern best done privately or by the state? Which system is more effective? Are American gun laws and the military-industrial complex compatible with the Beatitudes?

3) Russian Orthodox aka Putin

Putin has replaced the communist party with the church. There is a level of social spending in Russia. Non-Russian Orthodox denominations experience some persecution. Russia invaded Ukraine in part to displace Ukrainian Orthodoxy and the emerging national identity of that country with a Russian one. They view the West as a decadent influence.

4) British Constitutional Monarchy and welfare state

The British have a monarchy that swears allegiance to the Christian God and who is the head of the state church as well as the state. The British founded the NHS before comparable systems were in operation. But it was an early adopter of abortion in 1967 and there are doubts as to whether its current welfare spending can be sustained by a British economy weighed down by debt, pandemic, and BREXIT

The Beatitudes themselves read as follows:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.[/b]

 

[FireDragon76]

"None of the above"

 

[mindlight]

So the consensus appears to be that we are strangers in a strange land and that while God's Kingdom is transformative of lives in this world no one nation can claim to have implemented its requirements.

 

[Diamond7]

United States has more to give to help others. We have a huge abundance in this country.

 

[FireDragon76]

So the consensus appears to be that we are strangers in a strange land and that while God's Kingdom is transformative of lives in this world no one nation can claim to have implemented its requirements.

"The Kingdom of God" isn't a very good translation. Basileia means "reign", and it doesn't necessarily imply particular political structures. It's not of this world.

 

[mindlight]

United States has more to give to help others. We have a huge abundance in this country.

In the modern age much of that abundance had to do with fossil fuels. This allows you to continually run a navy and an airforce without consideration for fuel costs for example. But American demand consistently exceeds supply limiting what can be exported. In history, other countries also had such advantages - the British with coal, the French with population size for example.. People often confuse gifts with character. The rich man is shown favoritism when he gives only from his surplus. America like all nations before fails the test of the Beatitudes.

 

[mindlight]

"The Kingdom of God" isn't a very good translation. Basileia means "reign", and it doesn't necessarily imply particular political structures. It's not of this world.

You are right that Basileia in Greek and Malkut in Hebrew refer more to the activity of kingship than the structures generated by that reign. So the focus is on our king who both dwells within us and will return to implement the fullness of His Kingdom. The Beatitudes define the attitudes of hope, joy, and blessing in things that demonstrate our own allegiance to God's reign. Throughout history this relationship with our king has been transformative of this world also:

As the church has grown, idols have been toppled, false religions forgotten, injustices undone, laws rewritten, slavery abolished, child labor abolished and welfare states introduced. As we resolve old problems new ones are uncovered. Now we understand for instance that we have been poor stewards of the world we have been given and need to look after the environment better.

 

[Diamond7]

"The Kingdom of God" isn't a very good translation. Basileia means "reign", and it doesn't necessarily imply particular political structures. It's not of this world.

The point is that the people did not want God to reign over them. They wanted man to be their king. KJV is the only translation to use the word "reign".

1 Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.