Allow me to paint a REALLY stark contrast, here. Compare the modern day church, and how they have essentially shunned the LGBTQ community, with Jesus. There are countless examples in scripture showing what I mean.
Matthew. If you know anything about the cultural climate in Jesus day, tax collectors were hated as much as the modern day church hates the LGBTQ community. Not only did Jesus welcome him in, he became part of Jesus' inner circle, and a writer of one of the gospels.
The woman caught in adultery. She's never named, but she's really important. Her community was about to stone her for her sin. Enter Jesus. Jesus rebukes the community, and welcomes her in. I wish I knew what happened to her after that, y'know?
The woman at the well. She had five husbands (not all at the same time, c'mon, now!). She bore shame, so she went to the well when she knew nobody else would be there. Enter Jesus. He again welcomed her in.
Zaccheas. I think he was a tax collector too, wasn't he? Jesus shared a meal with him, while people around him protested.
Mary Magdalene. As a prostitute, she faced stigma in the community. Jesus welcomed her in, too.
My last example is a bit different. Remember the story Jesus told of two people in the temple? One, society considered to be a righteous man. He's praying, and he says "Look at me, Lord. Look how good I am. I follow your commands, I do all these things." The other is identified as a sinner. He says "Lord, I'm not worthy to be here because of my sin." Which one did Jesus welcome in? If you said the sinner, you're 100% correct.
I have one more thought here, and then I'll quit preaching. While we pick and choose what is sin and what isn't, Jesus welcomes ALL. In a world where, in the church, ALL does not include the LGBTQ community, Jesus not only welcomes the LGBTQ community, he embraces them.
Friends, brothers and sisters, be like Jesus.
