Overcoming The Enemy

A young couple that I am seeing who are not very far along in their psycho-spiritual growth reveal in their somewhat primitive naivety [I say this with love and respect--no condescension or criticism] an aspect of humanity that stands out in bold relief in their communication.  They are most comfortable with each other when they are criticizing someone in their social circle; and they do much of it. Someone in their circle has done something "stupid" or "rude", and they find much comfort in talking rather incessantly about that person. When the focus of conversation shifts to them, they unwittingly drag themselves into conflict with each other about everything under the sun, until they come back again to agreement about someone else's incompetence or inadequacy.
It seems like a universal principle that humans can often only unify against a common enemy. Many human groupings are organized against something or some other group. And the more heinous the enemy is perceived, the more cohesive the group. Some energy is therefore exerted in the group to vilify the opposition as an unconscious means [or perhaps a conscious means] of maintaining the momentum of the group. It is the group's responsibility and opportunity to understand the motives of the "enemy", and to discipline themselves to receive whatever truth may be coming from the other side, thereby avoiding unnecessary polarization and useless conflict.
More profoundly, this human tendency to demonize opposition as a way to feel connected and derive meaning points toward the importance of what the Bible says about the human condition:

For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war,
for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ...2Cor 10:3-5
For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12
What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? James 4:1

It is enlightening to consider that the word "devil" derives from words that mean "to accuse or slander"--commonly used techniques to vilify the "enemy".   The Bible teaches that humans have a common spiritual enemy, and until we awaken to this Reality, we will continue to be deceived by that enemy; and the manifestation of this deception will be "wars and rumors of wars" and fightings among ourselves. The Holy Spirit of Christ is and has ever been the only secure remedy to this malady, in all human relations. He teaches us to love our enemies and to courageously confront the evil that causes unnecessary human suffering. The battle must be spiritual, involving Holy Spirit- guided introspection, recognition of one's own "sinful nature" or "dark side,"  and a sincere commitment to the work of Love--the Love of Christ. This leads to peace, even in the midst of warfare.