Recently the cooperation of the Tzemach Institute with the settlement movement of Israel was attacked. A bold effort was made to separate us from those with faith in Israel who are pursuing the redemption process in the Land. This attack was leveled by a former Baptist who has converted to Judaism. He mistakenly interpreted our position through the eyes of a former Baptist. We will attempt to define our position in some important areas in order to clarify our vision. The attacker referred to us as Tzemach Christianity and that is a fair term to use. We will distinguish Tzemach Christianity from Constantinian (or traditional) Christianity.

The Constantinian Christian maintains Israel has been cut off from God's elect position and has now been replaced by the Church. Tzemach Christianity maintains that Israel continues in a covenant relationship with God unchanged since the covenant was cut at Mt. Sinai.

The Constantinian Christian position on Israel is that Israel has been cut off from God's elect position and has now been replaced by the Church. Evangelical Christianity takes a slightly modified position from this in believing that Israel has been sidelined during what is called "The Church Age" and will again be elect when Jesus returns and is accepted as Savior and Lord by Israel. Actually, this would effectively convert each Israeli to Christianity and, hence, make Christians out of them. Thus, Evangelical Christianity is not really different from traditional Christianity.

Tzemach Christianity maintains that Israel continues in a covenant relationship with God unchanged since the covenant was cut over 3,400 years ago at Mt. Sinai. Israel relates to God as a nation; they did at Mt. Sinai and they will at the advent of the Messiah. Israel is God's chosen instrument through which His Kingdom will be established on earth in the human community.

Constantinian Christianity maintains that Jesus fulfilled the Law individually and that there is no further responsibility for Christian believers to concern themselves with the Law. According to this view, a new law was set forth through the early Church (a law of the Spirit) although such a law has never been defined. Thus, every individual and every group defines what that law means. This has resulted in a hit-or-miss approach to the Law. Some commandments are adhered to — i.e. the laws concerning adultery, murder and tithing — whereas many other commandments are ignored. For example the Biblical festivals, including Shabbat, have been arbitrarily changed. Indeed the Church has adopted a "non-law" position.

Tzemach Christianity agrees that Messiah Jesus fulfilled the Law. He did this by the power of the Holy Spirit working in Him. Furthermore, we maintain that every believer should do exactly the same thing. Paul declared as much in his letter to the Romans: "In order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" Romans 8:4. We do not see ourselves as being justified by fulfilling the Law, but we do maintain that it is crucial that we walk orderly according to the Law in order to maintain a Godly witness before the world and to insure that our ministry is not undermined due to our transgression of the Law. This position necessitates that we study the Law in order to understand it, discipline ourselves to insure that our lives conform to it, and be filled with the Holy Spirit in our daily walk in order to fulfill the Law.

Constantinian Christianity sees the Church as an "ark" into which people come in order to be saved from the coming judgment and wrath of God. Tzemach Christianity sees the local church as the operational unit among Christian believers.

Constantinian Christianity sees the Church as an "ark" in which people must come into in order to be saved from the coming judgment and wrath of God. Once in the "ark", Christians may engage in many ministries all aimed at getting more people into the "ark". The "ark" is seen as the vessel through which God is operating a rescue mission in the midst of the human community. He is rescuing a few who will "go to heaven" when they die, having been delivered from this cruel world.

Tzemach Christianity sees the local church as the operational unit among Christian believers. The primary function of the local church is to be the "body of Messiah" through which Messiah Jesus is manifested. As the local church humbles itself and calls on the Lord, Messiah Jesus becomes King (Lord) in their midst and brings the congregation to a special position of offering praise, worship, and service before the throne of the Most High, the God of Israel. Messiah is an office in Israel, hence, the Church must assume the identity of her Lord and be grafted into Israel; it must actively reject a separate identity from Israel. There are a number of ministries that the local church engages in, including: ministry of encouragement and confirmation to Israel (Romans 15:8), training disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), ministering reconciliation in the world in general (II Corinthians 5:18-21), preaching the message of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14), and ministering helps to those in need.

Constantinian Christianity teaches that everyone outside of the Church is doomed to judgment. This is the position set forth by Augustine in the fifth century and has been adopted by the Church since then. This position precludes the future judgment of God.

Tzemach Christianity teaches that according to the Scriptures (1) All of us will one day experience physical death and then we (Christian and non-Christian, Jew and Gentile, Greek and barbarian, alike) will stand before God for judgment (Hebrew 9:27); (2) We each will be judged according to the deeds done in this life — not our confession or which organization we are a part of (John 5:28-29; Romans 2:5-8; Revelation 20:11-15); and (3) We each will be judged in accordance to the light of revelation that has come into our lives (Luke 12:48).

The message of Constantinian Christianity is the "gospel of salvation". This tells a person what he must do to be saved in order to "go to heaven" when he dies.

The message of Tzemach Christianity is the gospel of "the Kingdom of God". This gospel proclaims that God is coming to reign in the earth; that the process of redemption currently being pursued by many faithful Israelis is the preparation for the establishing of God's Kingdom; this Kingdom will be established in the midst of regathered Israel; that Messiah Jesus will return to Jerusalem in the Glory of God and that real believers will be transformed into His likeness (resurrection bodies) and come to Jerusalem with Him; and that a universal rule will then be established by God through Messiah in the midst of Israel; and that this rule will include every nation.

We maintain that Tzemach Christianity reflects much of the emphasis and mission of the first century Church. This is contrasted to Constantine Christianity which has evolved over two millennia and has incorporated many pagan concepts and practices. It is our desire to be faithful to the Scriptural patterns that are set before us. We pray to be available for the effective use of the Lord in these awesome days of redemption.