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By the way, it always amuses me that so many have a disdain for "learned men" when it comes to matters of theology, and yet, would you chose a surgeon who had spent many years learning about his craft, or would you chose a surgeon who had picked up a medical book and read through it after his shift at Burger King?

And what "amuses" me (but not a lot) is Rome's entrenched and perpetual disdain for the guy at Burger King who faithfully studies the word of God. Some "learned men" are correct, and some are fools who are condemned by their error.

"Ye shall know them by their fruits." -- Matthew 7:16

The fruits of Rome are ashes, while the fruits of the Reformed faith are assurance and repentance and obedience and joy and gratitude and guidance.

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" -- Ephesians 1:4-5

This country was built on and by the fruits of the Reformation.

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." -- 2 Timothy 4:1-4

Rome has a lot to worry about, not the least of which she is following the wrong "learned men."

"If any man have an ear, let him hear.
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." -- Revelation 13:9-10

"He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity..."

Praise God, we have been led out of our captivity by His perfect sacrifice, once for all time. After darkness, light.

THE REFORMATION
"...William Tyndale was born in 1493 AD, and died a martyr in 1536. He was educated at Oxford, and became a prominent Greek Scholar. He had obtained a copy of Erasmas' Greek New Testament and vowed before the Lord that "nothing" would stop him from learning the Greek language. He was prominently skilled as a Greek scholar and attempted a translation of the Bible (the NT) from original Greek to English. He sought to publish this translation but was turned down at every corner for the rights to publish; especially since he appealed to the Roman Catholic Church. They did not want the laity to gain hold of a copy of the Bible in their own tongue lest they misinterpret it; the Romans church believed that only the mother church is able to rightly interpret the Bible.
Tyndale secretly finished the translation with the help of colleagues, and smuggled the new translation into English hands. During a dinner meeting among priests and bishops where Tyndale was present, he said that he "defied the Pope and all his laws" and vowed that "a plough-boy would know more of the Scriptures than they" so help him God..."

"or would you chose a surgeon who had picked up a medical book and read through it after his shift at Burger King?"

Gee, Paul preached after making tents all day. My father worked the third shift in a factory and took no salary while pastoring a church for 30 years so that the offerings would go towards the ministry. He educated two lawyers, two school teachers, a pastor and a family therapist and served in the Peace Corps and started his last church at age 80. I think I'll stick with the one who has real life experiences as well as a heart for the Lord than a cloistered theologian. Bunyan the tinker and Carey the cobbler come readily to mind.

By the way, it always amuses me that so many have a disdain for "learned men" when it comes to matters of theology

Trusting on "learned men" sounds like worldly "wisdom." Reminds me of these verses...

1Cor 1:18-21 ¶ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1Cor 1:26-28 ¶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;(This is were that Burger King Bible Studier confounds some here at FR.)

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

1Cor 3:18-20 ¶ Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

2Ti 4:2-4 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

What is preached? The Word. Not oral traditions.

Why? The Word has sound doctrine.

What happens when people avoid the Word? They get itchy ears ready to listen to fables.

How do you get an oral tradition? You hear it.

When it can't be confirmed by the truth (the Word), what is it? A fable.

Sincerely

The fruits of Rome are ashes, while the fruits of the Reformed faith are assurance and repentance and obedience and joy and gratitude and guidance.

The fruits of Rome are millions upon millions of humble saints, glorifying God.

This country was built on and by the fruits of the Reformation.

And is guilty of tolerating the bloody murders of 45 million innocent children, and officially exalting that murder to the status of a "constitutional right". How wonderful. Is that one of the fruits of your "reformation," also?

During a dinner meeting among priests and bishops where Tyndale was present, he said that he "defied the Pope and all his laws"

I'm sure Dathan and Korah were very proud of having defied Moses, too.