“Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” But He told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-60 HCSB

Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that Jesus is trying to separate families, listen to what He told the demoniac.

“The man from whom the demons had departed kept begging Him to be with Him. But He sent him away and said, “Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him.”

Luke 8:38-39 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/luk.8.38-39.hcsb

But then listen to what Jesus said about people who will follow Him.

“Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

Matthew 10:34-37 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/mat.10.34-37.hcsb

When Jesus said, “A man’s enemies will be the members of his household. “ He is talking about a divided household. In his day until he comes again there will be believers who are married to unbelievers. And the closer to the end times these unbelievers will hand family members over to the authorities because they are a follower of Christ.

Jesus knows your family. He knows you. In this man’s life He knew that if he had gone back to the funeral that this man would not return back to Him.

Some families will help you to be closer to God. Some need to hear the good news of God. While others will only drag you away from God. And only you and God know which one you live in. I would adventure to say that everyone has all three examples in their extended family. But you and I need to be the ones who will always help our families draw closer to God. 

If God calls us to separate from them completely then separate. If God calls us home to let them know the good news of God, then go. If God calls us away to foreign lands and they don’t want to follow then leave them behind with one exception your spouse. We must still go if God calls us, but we also must try to convince our spouse to go with us. Divorce is really not an option with God. 

“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the LORD of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”

Malachi 2:16 NASB

https://www.bible.com/100/mal.2.16.nasb

“If he hates and divorces his wife, ” says the Lord God of Israel, “he covers his garment with injustice,” says the Lord of Hosts. Therefore, watch yourselves carefully, and do not act treacherously.”

Malachi 2:16 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/mal.2.16.hcsb

But then Paul gives the unbelieving spouse an out for the believer.

“I command the married — not I, but the Lord — a wife is not to leave her husband. But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband — and a husband is not to leave his wife. But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her. Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. For the unbelieving husband is set apart for God by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by the husband. Otherwise your children would be corrupt, but now they are set apart for God. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace. For you, wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or you, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?”

1 Corinthians 7:10-16 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/1co.7.10-16.hcsb