Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
When you understand the Bible the principle is that no verse is of its own interpretation. When Jesus was on the cross He told His disciple "behold your mother" and so that disciple took Jesus' mother in and cared for her. So this verse is clearly not saying that we are to discard any concern for the welfare of our family. Instead, Paul explains what this means.
Philippians 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
These are three groups of people. Dogs is a reference to those who are immoral, profligate, and involved in fornication. Evil workers are a reference to those who involved in Satanism and criminal behavior. The concision refers to a cult, people who believe you need something in addition to Jesus' blood to be redeemed. This covers every type or category of person who would have an agenda to turn you from the Lord.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
To be the circumcision refers to those to whom the Lord is pledged, just like a woman whose fiancee has given her an engagement ring. We worship God in spirit, you are not required to go to any specific place or church. All cults will argue that if you don't worship with them then you are lacking. We rejoice in Christ Jesus, all evil workers will want you to rejoice in something else be it your job, your money, your power, position, whatever. And all "dogs" want you to partake of fleshly pursuits. They will use arguments to say that it will be just a little, you don't need to worry. They will want you to have some confidence in your flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
This is what Jesus is talking about. To hate your father and mother is to have no trust in the flesh.
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
How many put trust in their upbringing to say they are saved. I was christened as a child. I go to church every week. I pay my tithes. I am a fundamental christian.
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Wow, imagine thinking that persecuting those that do not agree with you pleases God. Jesus said there would be those who think persecuting us will bring favor to them from God. Blameless concerning the righteousness in the law? This sounds like the most self righteous christian who condemns everyone else.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Paul's point is that once he saw that Jesus was Lord he immediately saw that the things he thought were gain to him with God, were actually loss. Jesus told him "why persecutest Me?" He wasn't persecuting evil people he was persecuting the body of Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
I have heard people talk glowingly of who their family is. My older brother has spent a lot of time researching our family tree. I am not interested in that. According to the Bible when I became saved and Jesus came to live in me, I became part of His family tree. I am more interested in Ruth and David and Abraham and Jacob being my ancestors. The faith they had I can have too. I am not interested in their flesh, but their faith.
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Where are you going to be found when the Lord returns? In Christ? In the word of God? In fellowship? In ministry? Will you be found with your own righteousness based on the law, or with the righteousness that is through the faith in Jesus Christ? Jesus righteousness can be imputed to you by faith, but not by works of the law.
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
What is the rapture but to know by and the power of His resurrection? So the question is, do you also know the fellowship of His sufferings? Were you made conformable unto His death, having behaved like a lamb that was silent as you were crucified?
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
This is how one attains to the resurrection of the dead which of course also refers to the rapture.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
We are pursuing Christ just as He pursued us. If you focus on what the Lord went through to pursue you then what you have to go through is something you will rejoice in.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
This is the point in Luke. To "hate your family" is to bear your cross.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
There is a price to be paid. Do not let your family stop you. Some in your family are possibly the dogs, evil workers or concision. I would suspect that the majority, at least two thirds of the world's population, perhaps even 75% of the world's population falls into one of those three categories.
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
How many have been like this? They were very strong for a couple of years and then returned to the world.
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.