'God is not a heavenly sovereign who rules human history and who, while not wanting evil things to happen, nonetheless gives permission for them. No, events such as the Holocaust are totally against God's will. God gives no welcome to the evil powers in history. Evil is purely and simply against the divine will. "God is light and in him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5) There is a radical opposition between God and evil. God does not permit evil; God stands against evil, condemns it and transcends it. God is constantly at work among humans, summoning them and strengthening them to discern evil, wrestle against it, be converted away from it, co-operate with others to overcome it, and if so called, to sacrifice their lives as a witness in opposition to it. I conclude that not all events of history belong to divine providence, but only those that are the fruit of divine grace. Providential are the series of events that manifest divine mercy and divine rescue, culminating in Jesus' fidelity to his mission on the cross and his glorious resurrection rehabilitating all the victims of history. God's coming is always rescuing, healing, lifting up and embracing.'
Gregory Baum, Amazing Church, p.50-51.
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