Christians and Politics

With campaigns charging forward in the US and about to officially launch here in Canada (though the ads are already underway) I find myself thinking more politically now than I can ever remember.
I have a really hard time with Christians who are strongly partisan politically. No party or leader fully represents the values and direction of Jesus or the Bible, though many from various perspectives try to lay claim. Followers of Jesus are called to one loyalty above all others, loyalty to Christ. That means we are expected to give our devotion to those priorities at all times.
I see too many people of Christian faith in both nations who are uncritically supportive of one or another candidate. We need to be intentional about presenting another view, one that may be unelectable, but is truly faithful.
Author Scot McKnight puts it this way:
“On politics I strive as much as possible to let my passions be for God and for the Church and for others (the Jesus Creed). I place no confidence in redemption by way of politics. The political hope ebbs and flows every 8 years now; I don’t get all riled up if a Republican or a Democrat wins; I don’t think it matters that much to what we are called to do on a daily basis.” —Scot McKnight (Jesus Creed)
(To read some reactions and thoughts on this quote go here).
I don't identify myself as an anabaptist or pacifist, but I do share their concerns about assigning loyalty or trust in any person or ideology other than Jesus.
I do believe we earn the right to speak prophetically to our leaders by engaging in the process of government regularly, not only by spouting off at election time.
I believe those who choose to speak for Christ from the inside of partisan communities take a significant risk and need to be both challenged and encouraged to retain their proper alignment and priorities.
And I believe that God is bigger than any party, election, or nation; and we would be wise to turn more of our attention to the real needs of the least and lost in our communities and around the world rather than becoming gripped by the drama of the electoral process.