The Real Battle: Why the Enemy Targets Unity
The world desperately needs what God intended when He created male and female. Not competition. Not hierarchy. Not one gender dominating the other. The world needs the exponential power that's released when men and women work together in true unity and partnership.
And the enemy knows it.
That's why he's worked so hard to convince us that God's design is hierarchical, that men are meant to rule and women are meant to follow, that someone has to be in charge and someone has to submit. It's not because these things are true—it's because keeping us divided keeps us weak.
The Exponential Power of Unity
Here's something I've observed: when men and women truly partner together—when both bring 100% of their strength, talent, and love to the table—something exponential happens. It's not just 1+1=2. It's more like 1+1=10 because of the synergy created.
I see this in healthy marriages where both spouses are empowered and contributing their full gifts. I see it in businesses where men and women work as genuine partners. I see it in churches where everyone's gifts are welcomed regardless of gender.
When the masculine and feminine aspects of God's image come together in unity, creative power is released that transforms everything it touches.
The Enemy's Strategy
So what does the enemy do? He attacks unity by creating false divisions:
He convinces men they have to carry impossible burdens alone. "You're the provider, the protector, the leader, the spiritual head. If anything goes wrong, it's your fault." Many men withdraw under this pressure, retreating into work, addictions, or isolation because they can't measure up to impossible expectations.
He convinces women they have to suppress their gifts and insights. "You're the helper, the follower, the supporter. Your job is to make him look good and never outshine him." Many women become bitter and resentful, or they learn to manipulate from behind the scenes because direct partnership isn't allowed.
He creates competition instead of collaboration. Instead of seeing each other as partners, men and women are taught to see each other as threats. If she succeeds, he's somehow diminished. If he leads, she's somehow less valuable.
He disguises control as spirituality. Power and domination get dressed up in religious language—"headship," "covering," "biblical order"—so people think they're serving God when they're actually serving the enemy's agenda of division.
The Disempowerment Strategy
Here's what I've realized: by disempowering women, the enemy doesn't just hurt women—he disempowers entire families and churches.
When half of the body of Christ is prevented from fully using their gifts, the whole body suffers. When women's insights, wisdom, leadership abilities, and spiritual gifts are suppressed, everyone loses.
Think about it:
What problems could be solved if we had access to everyone's wisdom?
What ministries could flourish if we welcomed everyone's gifts?
What businesses could thrive if partnerships weren't limited by gender assumptions?
What families could be stronger if both parents were fully empowered?
The enemy knows that keeping women "in their place" effectively amputates half the church's effectiveness.
The Male Casualty
But men are casualties too. When we create expectations that men must be the sole provider, protector, leader, and spiritual head, we set them up for failure and isolation.
I've watched so many men withdraw because they can't measure up to these impossible standards:
He doesn't make enough money, so he feels like a failure as a provider
He's not naturally gifted in leadership, so he feels inadequate as "the head"
He struggles with spiritual disciplines, so he feels unqualified to be the "spiritual leader"
He needs emotional or practical support, but asking for help doesn't fit the "strong man" image
Meanwhile, his wife may have gifts in these very areas, but she's been told it's not her role to use them. So they both suffer—he carries burdens he was never meant to bear alone, and she watches with frustration, unable to help in the ways she's gifted.
All Hands on Deck
The truth is, we need all hands on deck. The challenges facing our families, our churches, and our world are too great for us to operate at half-capacity.
We're facing:
Marriage and family breakdown
Mental health crises
Economic uncertainty
Political division
Spiritual confusion
Cultural hostility to faith
Do we really think this is the time to tell half the church to step back and limit their involvement? Do we really think families are stronger when only one parent is fully empowered?
The world needs the full strength of both men and women working together in unity. It needs the complete image of God expressed through genuine partnership.
The Unity That Transforms
When men and women work together as true partners, something powerful is released:
Creative solutions emerge that neither could have found alone. Different perspectives and experiences combine to produce innovative approaches to old problems.
Balanced leadership develops where strengths compensate for weaknesses and gifts complement each other naturally.
Resilient families form that can adapt to changing circumstances because both parents are equipped and empowered.
Effective ministries grow that can reach and serve people more completely because they reflect the full spectrum of God's heart.
Transformational influence spreads because healthy relationships are magnetic—they draw people toward the God who makes such relationships possible.
The Trinity Model
We see this perfect unity modeled in the Trinity itself. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in perfect partnership—no hierarchy, no domination, no competition. Just perfect love, perfect unity, and perfect power working together.
This is the image we were created to reflect: "Let us make mankind in our image... male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:26-27, NIV).
The enemy hates this unity because he knows its power. He fell because he wanted to exalt himself above others, to create hierarchy where God designed partnership. So he works tirelessly to infect human relationships with the same pride and competition that led to his downfall.
The Restoration
But God is restoring His original design. All over the world, people are discovering the power of true partnership between men and women:
Marriages are being healed as couples learn to operate as genuine partners rather than hierarchy
Churches are experiencing renewal as they welcome the full gifts of all believers
Businesses are thriving as they embrace collaboration over competition
Families are being strengthened as both parents are empowered to contribute their full potential
This isn't about eliminating all distinctions between men and women—we do bring different perspectives and experiences. It's about celebrating those differences within equality rather than using them to create hierarchy.
A Personal Testament
In my marriage with Gregory, I've experienced this exponential power firsthand. Neither of us has to suppress our gifts to make the other feel secure. Neither of us has to carry burdens alone that the other could help shoulder.
Gregory supports my writing and teaching ministry, even though it challenges traditional male authority. I support his heart for serving those in need, even though it means he doesn't make much money. Together, we're building Kingdom resources that neither of us could create alone.
Our unity doesn't make us weak—it makes us exponentially stronger.
The Call to Battle
Make no mistake: this is a battle. The enemy will not give up his strategy of division easily. He'll use well-meaning people to perpetuate systems that keep us separated and weakened.
But the battle isn't against people who disagree with us—it's against the spiritual forces that have convinced them that God's design is hierarchical. Our weapons aren't arguments and debates, but love, truth, and the demonstration of what Kingdom relationships actually look like.
When people see marriages that thrive on partnership rather than hierarchy, when they see families that are stronger because both parents are empowered, when they see churches that are more effective because everyone's gifts are welcomed—that's when hearts begin to change.
The Kingdom Vision
Here's the vision that drives me: a world where the full image of God is expressed through men and women working together in unity. Where families are strong because both parents are empowered. Where churches are effective because everyone's gifts are welcomed. Where businesses and organizations thrive because collaboration trumps competition.
A world where the next generation grows up seeing both men and women as whole, capable, valuable people who can work together to solve problems and make a difference.
A world where the enemy's strategy of division is defeated by the reality of God's design for unity.
The Time is Now
The world is ready for this. Even secular society recognizes that teams perform better when they include diverse perspectives and experiences. They understand that organizations are stronger when they don't limit talent based on irrelevant characteristics.
The church should be leading this movement, not lagging behind it. We should be the example of how beautifully men and women can work together when they're both valued and empowered.
Your Part in the Battle
You have a role to play in this restoration. Whether you're:
A married couple learning to operate as genuine partners
A church leader recognizing and welcoming everyone's gifts
A parent raising children who see both genders as valuable and capable
A business owner creating collaborative rather than competitive environments
A friend encouraging others to embrace their full potential
You're part of God's plan to restore unity and defeat the enemy's strategy of division.
The battle is real, but the victory is sure. God's design for unity and partnership will ultimately triumph over human systems of hierarchy and control.
The question is: will you be part of the problem or part of the solution? Will you perpetuate division or help create unity? Will you limit God's image or help reveal it in its fullness?
The world is waiting for the answer.
Where have you seen the power of true partnership between men and women? How might your family, church, or workplace be different if everyone's gifts were fully welcomed and utilized?
Blessings,
Susan 😊