"I prefer not to proof text Scripture. It is easily manipulated to make one's point, although it appears easier to discuss Scripture in that way.

I would prefer to use themes or arcs of Scripture to explore our thinking."

Aren't you manipulating Scripture?

The arc of Scripture has a theme which is that our thinking is not God's thinking and our willful sinfulness separated us from God and turning away from our wrongful thinking is necessary... What did both John the Baptist and Jesus preach from the outset? See Matthew 4:17.