Re-vision - Elizabeth Barton

1506?–34

Was she a madwoman, a huckster, a political opportunist, or a prophet? Historical reports include all these perspectives, and more.

In 1525, Elizabeth Barton was about nineteen, working as a maid, when she fell ill and began to see visions, sometimes while in trances that would last for days. Her utterances had a religious quality. Observers remarked on the “marvelous holiness” of these messages “in rebuke of sin and vice.”

Prophecy was no small matter. Her parish priest reported these events to the archbishop, who sent a team to investigate. They discovered nothing amiss. When she publicly predicted her own healing, Barton found popularity among the rich and poor alike. Becoming a nun, she continued to exhort the people of England to remain true to the Lord, the church, and the Virgin Mary. She even met with King Henry VIII.

Then the religious life of England was torn apart. Henry wanted to divorce his first wife in favor of one who could give him an heir. The pope refused to grant an annulment, though this was commonly done for other rulers. So Henry seized control of the Church of England. At this point, Barton’s utterances took on a fierce, judgmental tone. The king, she said, was making a grievous error. If he continued, he would die and burn in hell—she had even seen his particular corner of hell.

Because of her celebrity, Barton became a formidable opponent to the king. His advisers eventually arrested her and reportedly forced a confession of fraud. Then she was condemned, along with several sympathizers, and executed in 1534.

It was an ugly business. Partisans on both sides rushed to defend or discredit her, and they still do. Protestant and Catholic historians sharply disagree on who this woman was and what her visions meant.

In this, we find a lesson for today. Our highly partisan culture often makes it hard to hear the true message of God. We quickly look for the political value of any position, rather than listening with open hearts and bowing to God’s desires. Love, truth, and wholeness become slogans rather than prophetic directives. Let’s stop our partisan revision of God’s Word and get a clear vision of his will for our lives.

They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies.”

Isaiah 30:10