中国民主党全委会美国委员会

（北京-2018年4月16日）中国政府加强对基督教的监控。继浙江基督教堂被全面安装监控之后，北京也开始强行在家庭教会聚会场所安装摄像头。

北京相关部门强制在锡安教会强行安装摄像头。锡安教会是一间独立的城市家庭教会，拥有合法租赁的聚会场所，教会不同意政府部门在聚会场所安装监控，被强行停水和停运电梯，进而面临停电。

4月16日，北京锡安教会发出《紧急祷告事项》，呼吁锡安教会会友代祷。代祷信指出：“从今天中午开始，因为教会不同意物业在主堂隆宝辰三楼大堂和副堂安装摄像头，物业已经停止三楼的供水和电梯，并且随时有可能停电。”

锡安教会教牧同工正在讨论和设计应对方案，目前，教会事工暂不受影响，教会发起“行走的敬拜者”活动，活动形式内容尚不清楚，代祷信说：“教会鼓励所有人周六、周日一起加入“行走的敬拜者”活动（WW），愿主在这日子里越发得荣耀！阿门！”

对于锡安教会被强行安装监控，北京恩道教会郭易君牧师回应称：“政府在锡安的行动很可能是一个试探性的行动，若锡安没有智慧的处理，很有可能全北京推广。”

郭易君牧师分析装摄像头的利弊时说：好的方面：还真想不出来，勉强说一点，可能会帮助信仰更加公开。对信心坚固的人而言愈发坚固。坏的方面：所有信徒将在威慑之下；是对自由敬拜权的极大限制；信心软弱的弟兄姊妹可能就不来了。装完摄像头之后，将有足够的证据，“欲加之罪何患无辞”。教会的人事、财务和治理可能都会受不同程度的影响。所谓“察渊鱼则不祥”。对于在机关、事业单位和国企工作的弟兄姊妹将是巨大的挑战。

郭易君牧师总结当局在家庭教会聚会场所强装监控的目的，并视此为一种“恶”。他说：“这是一种权力不加限制的极权行动，其背后的逻辑是恐惧和掌控。有人说装就装呗怕啥。嗯，是的，不怕什么，命都交给主了，的确不怕。但对这种明目昭彰的恶，若是不做思考地听从，不求上头的智慧，实在是很危险也是很不负责任的态度。”。

北京锡安教会成立于2007年，是城市家庭教会，具有一定的代表性。牧者有：金明日牧师、李相虎牧师、靳宏亮传道、高颍佳传道等，信徒人数800多人。

当局在基督教场所强装的摄像头直接线到派出所，受监控的教会活动全部暴露在警察的严密监控之下，警察可按政治需要，任意将教会的日常活动视为非法活动的一部分，作为进一步给教会或基督徒个人罗织罪名及定罪的虚假依据。

英文翻译
House churches in Beijing are now covered by police video surveillance

(Beijing, April 16, 2018) In order to keep a close watch on Christianity, Beijing has required surveillance cameras should be installed at house churches after the project was run in Zhejiang province.

Xi’an church, an independent house church in Beijing, was forcibly installed with surveillance cameras by a governmental department despite their dissent. The church rents a place for fellowship and worship lawfully. However, water was cut off and the elevator was out of service because they rejected government’s decision. Electricity may be shut off, too.

On April 16 Xi’an Church sent an urgent prayer request to the congregation. The email wrote, “Water has been cut off and elevator has been out of service since this noon because our church does not allow surveillance cameras to be installed in the sanctuary located on the 3rd floor in Longbaochen and the meeting place. Power may go out anytime as well.”

Pastors and ministers of Xi’an Church have been discussing how to react. At this point, the church’s ministry has not been affected. Rather, the church has planned on a new event, “Walking Worshippers”. Details are not available yet. The email wrote, “All are invited to Walking Worshippers scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. May the LORD be glorified during the dark time. Amen.”

Guo Xijun, pastor of Beijing Endao Church, commented, ”Government may test water by installing cameras in Xi’an Church. If Xi’an Church could not respond properly, it is likely that it will happen to other house churches in Beijing.”

Pastor Guo Xijun analyzed pros and cons of surveillance cameras, “It is hard to say what is the advantage. It may publicize our faith. Faithful believers would be more steadfast. The disadvantages include a) No worshipping freedom. If the service at church is monitored, some Christians who are weak in faith may not attend it any more as feeling threatened. b) Loss of safety and security. Cameras will record everything that happens in the church. That said, the personnel, finance and administration of the church will be intervened to some extent since government is able to collect more evidence. ‘He who has a mind to beat his dog will easily find his stick.’’It is an evil omen to fish if the pool is inspected.’ Also, it is a challenge and trial to Christians having federal positions or working for state-owned enterprises.

Pastor Guo Xijun summarized government’s purposes of installing surveillance cameras at house church, deeming it as an evil. He said, “This is an extremist act by authorities who do not control their power. The rationale is to intimate and dominate. Some Christians said that we need neither worry nor fear. True, we fear nothing because we already commit our life to the Lord. Nevertheless, if we obey the notorious evil without thinking and seeking God’s wisdom, it would be dangerous and we are irresponsible either.”

Beijing Xi’an Church, an urban house church founded in 2007, is a representative of other house churches. Some of pastors earned their Master of Divinity degree abroad, such as Jin Mingri from Fuller Seminary located in the U.S. Over 800 people attend the church and the majority are white collar and federal employees.

Police officers are in charge of monitoring the footage recorded in churches and know what is going on in the monitored churches. With that said, police officers are able to provide false evidence supporting that a church or Christian committed a crime by organizing unlawful events, which meets government’s political needs.

(Chinaaid News)