Friday, July 21, 2017

Controversies - An Autobiography of William F. Luck

I met Bill sometime about 1998 or 99 at a Bible study of the Gospel of John held at a downtown Chicago law firm.  I was a recent graduate of Moody Bible Institute ('96) and had heard he was a former teacher.  I never had him as a teacher at Moody but did take numerous classes with friends of his (Paul Haik, Paul Nevin, John Walton, Tom Cornman).

Recently I have been discovering his books, and this one in particular was of interest - as all biographies are to me.  Having read Controversies - let me say at the outset, THIS is the book to read to get a handle on this rather interesting and complex man!  He has written more than 20 other books, and this book puts them all in context with history and helps you to see how it is that Bill, for example, took on the very challenging topic of Divorce and Remarriage in the late 70's. 

If you like to get a historical feel on the theological debates and discussions of the 70's through the 90's you will get that here!  Many of his contemporaries are given a new light as we read how they interacted with Bill, and others.  Oftentimes we only see men in light of the conclusive books they have written, but we do not get an inside look as to how they came to writing and why they ended up believing as they do.  Controversies will put such men as G. Coleman Luck (Bill's father), Coleman Luck, Jr (Writer of numerous TV series in the 90’s and Bill’s older brother), Paul Feinberg, Greg Bahnsen, Lou Goldberg of MBI, Robert Van Kampen, Irwin Lutzer, Norm Geisler, Paul Little, Clark Pinnock, Walter Kaiser, Thomas Parker, Bruce Rigdon, Mark Cosgrove, Jim Williams, John Buell, J. P. Moreland, Lou Barbiari, Gary Freisen, Bill Bright, Bill Gothard, Robert Gundry, Stan Gundry, Alan Johnson, in a new light (not necessarily a bad light!).

Remember "Hampden DuBose" (https://www.hampdenduboseacademy.com ) boarding school?  Read Bill's account of his time there! Ever wonder what it might be like to be a conservative in a liberal seminary?  Wonder no more as Bill takes you in depth through his years at McCormick Seminary ('73-4).  Want to wade into some deep Ethical debates, but not so deep that you'll drown?  Bill takes you there and makes the trip worthwhile.  You may not agree with him, but you will certainly appreciate his authenticity in the discussion. 

I do wholeheartedly commend to you Bill's autobiography, Controversies.  And after that, you will know which of his many books to consider next!  https://www.amazon.com/William-F.-Luck-Sr./e/B00WYR8UE0

'Uncle' Dave Cox