THE CHRISTIAN CHILD: DEVOTION vs. DENIAL

By Stacy-Ann Ellis

Every Sunday, Megan Wilkinson sits in the pews of St. John’s United Methodist Church and sings the hymns along with the rest of the congregation, holding the Bible in both hands. Though the majority of the church sees her as the ideal Christian child, the connection between her and the book in her lap could never be more distant.

“She is involved with the youth, involved in the youth choir, and part of the dance ministry,” said Janet Greaves, a member of the Divinity Dancers, the praise dance group within the church. Greaves only mentions a few of the many ways that Wilkinson has been active in her church. Aside from being a praise dancer and a choir member, Wilkinson has volunteered her time in the nursery, watching the children of adults wishing to peacefully enjoy services. Not only does she volunteer her services in church, she also offers to baby-sit the children of the church on her own time. Megan Wilkinson is the pure, innocent, all-around perfect follower of God. “Megan has been a pillar of this church,” said Keith Price, a lay leader for St. John’s United Methodist Church. “She’s one of those who return to give back to God that which God has blessed her with.”

Wilkinson, however, has another take on her relationship with God. “I count myself as a Christian but I don’t believe in the Lord half the time,” confessed Wilkinson. She says being a Christian is “just a title.” In fact, she is skeptical when it comes to faith: “I’m not going to accept the Lord until I see some action.”

Wilkinson is one of the most un-traditional “Christians” you may find in St. John’s. “I think Megan’s freaky,” said Shenley Boyce, a child at St. John’s. With five piercings in her right ear, four on her left, one in her naval, and a tattoo on her foot, Wilkinson definitely stands out among the congregation.

However, her physical features are not the most prominent and puzzling aspect of her life. “‘You can’t honestly call yourself a lesbian and a Christian. They don’t exist.’” These words came from her very own mother, Wilkinson said. She has been sure of her sexuality since she was 12-years-old and battling her parents’ opposition to it. “The fact that I was dating a female was outrageous to them,” she recalls. “‘We didn’t raise you in a lesbian lifestyle. You can’t be a lesbian.’” After her parents finally discovered her lifestyle on Myspace and had a family meeting about it, her father refused to talk to her for “about 4 to 5 months” and her mother wouldn’t even look at her for a while. She had to confide in her aunt, the only family member who could understand her.

Though she is often misread, misinterpreted, as well as both under and overestimated, pseudo-Christian Megan Wilkinson makes sure that she is the only one in control of her life. “I’m a grown child. I know what I am doing. I may act like I’m stupid just to fool you, but mark my words, I know what I’m doing.”