Man vs God

It sounds pretty simple, but I find it rather confusing to consider the duties of man vs those of God. God made man in His image, with many of the possibilities, and even duties, to act as God would act here on earth, but where do the limits of man’s duties lie? When God created him, what did God expect of man; what did He want of him? What are the things of man’s, and what are the things of God’s on this earth?

On a purely physical plane, the separation of duties seems obvious. I haven’t cured anyone of any illness lately, and I consider that a thing of God’s action, but even here, there is some level of grey-ness around the limits of the human body. There were some men in the past who were able to use their bodies in ways which we might perceive as miraculous, Edgar Casey comes to mind (read There Is A River). He, not a particularly religious man, said his soul reached out to touch the souls of other people, and through the soul he could perceive the physical condition of another body – even one thousands of miles away. There are thousands of pages of recorded “cures”, where Casey directed doctors to perform surgeries and people were healed of many illnesses, people whose regular doctor could not diagnose their problems. Casey didn’t perform cures, per se, but he was able to use his mind to a higher level than most people --- so where does the human ability end and God’s begin? Perhaps what we lost in the Garden of Eden was more than we’ll ever understand. But I began talking about man’s duties, not abilities.

Man’s freedom, I think, clouds the understanding of his duties. Certainly some duties of man were made clearer to him by God Himself; man was given commandments. The commandments defined actions a man should or should not take (including, as in the 9th and 10th commandments, actions he should or should not think), but some men interpret their duties associated with these commandments differently, especially when it comes to actions to be taken on behalf of their neighbor. The Second Great Commandment, “Love your neighbor,” is interpreted by some as a simple well-wishing for your neighbor, have good thoughts of and prayers for him, but don’t interfere with His freedom. Others interpret that commandment as defining their actions: don’t kill or steal from your neighbor, or take or covet his things. They interpret it kind of like: “Here’s our yard and there is theirs; don’t go into their yard.” But some people interpret that second command to love as a command to ensure the well-being of their neighbor, to the degree that they have ability to do so. In their mind they perceive their duty is to provide for the earthly well-being of everyone they can, even to the point of making sure they get to heaven. They take this caring for neighbor upon themselves as a duty and commandment from God. But is it?

How much is a man in control of his and his brother’s destiny? Should he, is it really part of his responsibility, to ensure his brother’s entering heaven? Should man build upon God’s rules for his fellow man’s good? “I want you to go to heaven; I think this is part of God’s plan; therefore I should force you to go there if I can?” Just what does God expect of man relative to his fellow man?

Many philosophers have taken a positive attitude of man’s duties to his fellow man. They believe man evolved to this point of wisdom; God helped him understand his duties (the commandments) up to the present time, but now man must move forward, controlling his further evolution, guaranteeing the accomplishment of man’s destiny for the ultimate good of all men, as they see it. (For some, this controlling of evolution includes the betterment of the species, a furthering of the survival of the fittest --- - but they’ll define who is fit, and ominously, who is not.) Personally, I think that’s where Satan steps in and says: “Well, my boy, let me explain to you how to love your fellow man to the utmost. You know, I understand the mind of God.”

He did not deem equality with God as something to be grasped at. Even Jesus recognized limits of our human nature. While God expects us to seek to know His will, He does not expect us to be perfect as we seek to obey it. We’re not expected to convert or cure the world; even Jesus didn’t do that. He recognizes our freedom, and our weakness. God expects us to try to do His will, using all the talents he gave us, but that is the extent of our responsibility. Like a good Father, he wishes his children to be as he is, but in wishing this he does not want nor expect his children to BE him; only He is God. We cannot make another man go to heaven, nor can we create a heaven here on earth for him. Perhaps we can MAKE a man do good actions, but we cannot make him do them willingly. Just ask any teenager. And it is the state of a man’s heart, his will, which will ultimately determine his entry to heaven, not just his actions. We can’t say to another: “Follow me; I will save you.” Only one man could say those words.

Where do our duties to our fellow man end, and those of God begin? I’ve heard it said that I am not responsible for another man’s happiness, earthly or eternal. Recently I heard from the pulpit: “It is our responsibility to witness, not bring about a change in someone’s life.” It guess that is saying that by our actions and witness, we can help change another man’s actions, but we cannot change his soul. Only God can do that. There, I believe, lies the defining line of man’s and God’s duties.

I think some of these thoughts, and confusions, are a part of our country’s present debate between liberalism and conservatism. What are man’s duties to his fellow man? Where do God’s duties begin? I fear that some believe, like the philosophers, that, at present, God has no duties toward man, only man toward his fellow-man.

I know many good and intelligent men of a liberal mindset. Sometimes our conversations are limited because we see many things differently, especially in our duties toward others. They would not describe their beliefs as excluding God, but I fear they cannot define where He or His Church fits into man’s duty to man. They view it as THEIR duty to act, or as they would say, to love without limit. Relative to their relationship to the Catholic Church, they would say firmly: We are Church. A long discussion is really needed between liberals and conservatives, but it’s hard to frame because the basic “fact” underlying our thoughts is the same: The commandment is to Love your neighbor. It’s a discussion which sounds like a philosophical one, but it is not so because despite talking about love, it’s really a discussion on matters of life and death. I think, among others, it is a discussion which is needed in America today.

I think, and pray, on it much. Do not be anxious? I’m not sure I know how to overcome this anxiety.