After having manufactured Mr. Potato Head for 70 years, Hasbro has decided to make a change. They are going to a gender-neutral name. He (it?) will now be known simply as Potato Head. Apparently, having a Mrs. Potato Head to go along with Mr. wasn’t enough to satisfy some people.

Count me among those who think that the crowd pushing for gender-neutrality has pushed too far. We should get back to a reality-based understanding that there are indeed differences between males and females. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Jesus quoted that text as he reiterated this important truth in Matthew 19:4-5—“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?”

There certainly is a lot of confusion these days about gender issues. People who insist that gender doesn’t matter at all also insist that we should elect a woman as president. Some maintain that it doesn’t matter which public restroom they use, no matter how creepy it looks or how uncomfortable they make others feel. Some boys would rather compete in sports against girls, unconcerned about the unfair advantage they have. Some adults are saying that little boys and girls should be allowed, and even encouraged, to change from one gender to the other, with all the surgery and bombardment of artificial hormones that decision entails. Our culture has already attempted to redefine marriage from the God-ordained one man/one woman relationship, and the price we will pay for that decision remains to be seen.

We need to be graceful as we speak God’s truth about these matters. But speak we must! We must not cower in fear of our opposition, not when so much is at stake. The moral climate we leave to our children and grandchildren will be partly determined by how willing we are to stand up for the truth.

Maybe it’s too late for our nation. Perhaps we have already crossed the line. Our society seems hell-bent on becoming the next Sodom and Gomorrah. Or maybe it’s not too late. Perhaps we can turn things around. It’s happened before. But no matter what happens, God will reward or punish each individual for their obedience or their disobedience to his Word.

So, men and women of God, let’s take our stand! Let’s speak the truth in love and trust the Lord for the results. Let’s say, along with Joshua, “…Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15).