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[Throwaway]

Would Jesus be in favour of or oppose a monarchy? Let's use the British royal family as example. What would he teach or say to his listeners?

I'm talking about modern monarchies where the actual power is in the parliament.

[jimwalton]

Jesus never spoke in favor of or in opposition to any political system. The Bible doesn't dictate any ideal political system, nor ever expresses a preference of one over another. In the Bible God does not dictate the shape of society. He does not seek to form a "perfect" society, because no society is perfect (since it is a society of fallen humans).

> What would he teach or say to his listeners?

He encourages his people to live holy lives in that society.

[Throwaway]

> The Bible doesn't dictate any ideal political system, nor ever expresses a preference of one over another.

What are your thoughts on this comment:

He warned the Israelites that they didn’t want a king in 1 Samuel 8 because of how harmful kings end up being. That said, once a king is in place, we are expected to submit to the authority that is in place, hence render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.

[jimwalton]

All political systems have their flaws because they are run by flawed people. Totalitarianism actually works well if you have an intelligent, selfless, beneficent ruler. So also monarchies. Democracy works well with knowledgable, selfless people who seek the greater good. I'm not sure socialism has ever worked anywhere; it's good in theory, but never works in praxis.

By the same token, all of these political systems fail in the face of greed, pride, power-mongering, and favoritism.

Of course, as the comment said, God did warn the Israelites that kings can be harmful. It's true—they can be. The kings of Israel were all horrible. There were some, but not many, good kings in Judah.

> once a king is in place, we are expected to submit to the authority that is in place, hence render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.

True, but this has conditions. There are times in the Bible when the prophets, as well as the Apostles and Paul, did not submit to the governing authorities. It's a larger discussion.

[Throwaway]

Ok that's all fair. But what about a system like in Britain. The royal family is not the govt. They just exist and leech tax dollars and have power and wealth due to....birth lottery.

The population would be better off without such a thing.

[jimwalton]

I'm in no position to state whether or not Jesus would be in favor of such an institution. It seems to me as an outsider (American) that the British quasi-monarchy is no longer a true monarchy. Any supposed power they have is peripheral and really only emotional, not political.

Regardless of the institution, however, Jesus was opposed to greed. It's different than the question you asked. Jesus may or may not oppose the monarchy, but Britain's is not a functioning monarchy, imho, but rather a facade and charade of one. They play at being royal, based only on tradition. Would Jesus oppose such a game? I think so, but that's just my opinion. The Bible didn't go for leeching money from others, of greed, or of perpetuating wealth at the expense of the poor.

But what do I know? I'm American.