General Norman Schwarzkopf died this past Thursday at his home in Tampa, Florida. He was nicknamed, “Stormin’ Norman” because of his explosive temper. But Schwarzkopf was a highly decorated and greatly respected General who commanded the U.S. led international coalition that drove Saddam Hussein’s forces out of Kuwait in 1991.

After the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001, General Schwarzkopf was asked if he thought there was room for forgiveness toward the people who harbored and assisted the terrorists who perpetrated the 9/11 attacks on America. His answer was classic. General Schwarzkopf said, “I believe that forgiving them is God ‘s function…OUR job is to arrange the meeting!”

Some “progressive” thinkers may have objected to such harsh rhetoric as inappropriate. They would probably quote (and take out of context) Jesus’ warning, “Don’t judge or you also will be judged.” After all, isn’t it our job to extend mercy and God’s job to judge?

But Romans 13 teaches that God has appointed government authorities to administer justice in order to restrain evil. “The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:1-4).

Knowing the carnal nature of man is instinctively inclined to evil, God delegated authority to military leaders, law enforcement officers and judges to punish wrong-doers and encourage proper behavior. Those officials have the God-given responsibility to bring the wicked to justice in order to protect the innocent and prevent evil from dominating the culture.

That’s particularly relevant today since some are vehemently objecting to the suggestion that schools should have an armed policeman at the door to protect children from a Newtown, Connecticut type of attack. “We don’t want our schools being armed fortresses” they protest. “We don’t want a policeman with a gun being the first thing our children see when they walk into their school.”

However, if children are taught that police officers are our friends, and they are armed to protect and keep us safe, we are teaching them to respect God’s delegated authority and to fear the consequences of disobedience.

It’s been reported that the school where the President’s two children and the children of other well-known public figures in Washington D.C. attend has nearly a dozen armed guards daily protecting the school. That’s appropriate. We all understand the wisdom of secret service agents guarding the President’s children…there are evil, devious people in the world and those children merit additional protection.

But all of our children are precious and merit safekeeping. And it seems hypocritical that some in the media are objecting to police protection in schools while sending their own children to schools which already provide armed security.

The world is a dangerous place–not primarily because of the availability of guns but because of the escalation of sin. Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9.

In recent years, educators have discounted the sinful nature of man and removed common sense restraints that were formerly in place. Corporal punishment has been outlawed in school. We’ve quit teaching Judeo- Christian values and removed the Ten Commandments from the classroom and replaced it with “value-free education.” We’ve taught kids they exist as the result of an evolutionary accident, their basics instincts are good and no one can tell them what’s right and wrong. As a result, “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:18) and Satan rushes into the vacuum with thoughts that kill, steal and destroy.

Until we experience a spiritual revival and return to a basic respect for God and His word we need a vigilant military, well-armed policemen, aggressive prosecutors and wise judges to restrain the evil that lurks in the hearts of men. In the meantime, I thank God for General Norman Schwarzkopf – “He (was) God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”