Immortals are self-made, and are not the models of virtue that gods are. Gods, on the other hand, are proclaimed as such by the people on account of their virtues. Matsu, for example, rescues people who are in distress at sea. Guan Gong is a paragon of righteousness and loyalty.
為此，相對於媽祖救渡落海人、關公充滿浩然正氣、忠心不二，被民間封為神祇，修道成仙是自主的，神卻是被決定的，仙也就不似神的道貌岸然。