The church and temptation

Sadly the temptations Jesus resisted in the desert, we his church have
not.
OT Israel were not the only band of God's people given to adultery and 
idolatry. We too have slept with the enemy to gain this world's 
riches. 
Whereas Jesus would have rather starved to death than use his divine 
privilege to overturn his utter dependence on God's word; we have 
twisted God's word to our advantage at the expense of the world's 
starving. 
We have embezzled the food that belongs to the hungry by clinging to 
the stones of our institutions and property. 
Whereas Jesus refused to succumb to supernatural theatrics to win the 
world over, we think nothing of prostituting ourselves and God's truth 
to gain the world's favour. 
Whereas Jesus resisted the devil's offer of all the kingdoms of this 
world; we have repeatedly jumped into bed with the devil in his 
various disguises of power - Emperor, Superstar, Merchant 
Extraordinaire.
I heard a minister recently take issue with those who criticize the 
church. If his point is that those who criticize not be arrogant, his 
point is well taken. Arrogance only makes the critic twice as bad. 
But if his point is that the church - especially the prosperous 
contemporary church - is not that far off from where we should be, I 
vehemently disagree. 
In my humble opinion, we have exchanged our birthright of sharing in 
the hunger of God's poor for affluence and privileged social standing; 
we have not resisted the power brokers of our time to 'get behind us 
Satan'. 
We have chosen patriotism over Christ's kingdom, self-sufficiency over 
his cross, convenience and superficiality over perseverance and 
prayer.
Fortunately, one other temptation Jesus has resisted, is the 
temptation to give up on us. 'I am with you always, even to the end of 
this age', he says. 
But let's not mistake his loyalty as though he's indifferent to our 
current condition. 'Repent or I will spit you out of my mouth', is 
also what he says.