Despite the politically-charged atmosphere of the Roman occupation, John the Baptist and Jesus were surprisingly apolitical. In Luke 3:12-14 John addresses two types of unpopular people: tax collectors and foreign soldiers.
To the tax collectors, he said to "collect no more taxes than the Roman government requires you to." To the Roman soldiers, he said "Don't extort money, and don't accuse people of things you know they didn't do. And be content with your pay." [NLT]
What's really significant is what John *didn't* say; he didn't say the soldiers should get out of Palestine. He didn't say the tax collectors should quit their "oppressor-collaborator" jobs. Both John and Jesus were much more concerned with people's spiritual condition than their political preferences.
So I have trouble with people I know from church who post a lot of political messages on Facebook. Stuff like "Friends don't let friends vote X" doesn't sit well with me; I recently unfriended someone because it seemed all they ever wrote about was political half-truths and biased opinions.
My perspective is: If you think the country's going to go down the toilet because I vote one way and not another, so what? On judgment day, the nation's not going to heaven -- people are. Being an American citizen doesn't get you a free pass (despite being a "Christian nation").
By the same token, disagreeing with you doesn't make a person stupid or guilty of a hate crime. Different people simply have different values.
Either way, as long as Christians keep a proper perspective on the relative unimportance of politcal matters, we can focus on the big issue -- helping people change and become one of God's "elect."
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I agree that the apolitical sermons of Jesus & John were a matter of priorities, but also meant as a contrast. Jesus' Kingdom is a spiritual one, not an Earthly geopolitical entity. And while I believe the USA has Christian values in its founding principles, the concept of a "Christian Nation" is somewhat of an oxymoron.
I wouldn't categorize politics as unimportant, however. At least, not in countries where we have the opportunity to choose our leaders and representatives. The people we choose (by action or even inaction) shape how we are allowed to practice our God-given freedoms. Forces exist that oppose the Christian mission, and are willing to use government to that end. In this Year's Supreme Court decision on the ACA (aka Obamacare), Chief Justice John Roberts wrote this: "It is not our (the Court's) job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices." In other words, elections have consequences. 1 Samuel 8:10-21 provides a warning along the lines of "be careful what you ask for--you just might get it!
I'm not even on Facebook, though I agree that bumper sticker type statements may be good for a cheap laugh, but are rarely capable of changing someone's mind. That having been said, friends become friends due to shared interests and/or values, and I don't think it's improper to have a reasonable discussion on relevant issues when politics influence them.
Different people will always have different values, so my generic advice is this: Vote your values. Make an informed, honest decision about choosing the candidate who you think would do what you would do if you were elected to that position. Study their affiliations, including their party and that party's platform. Consider their associates. Follow the money--will they direct your tax dollars towards things you oppose? For Christians, will that money fund what God calls evil or immoral? There's only so much an individual can do, but I'm sure you've heard this quote: All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
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