"Nearer the church, the farther from God" nghĩa là gì?

"Nearer the church, the farther from God" = Càng gần nhà thờ, càng xa Chúa -> nghĩa là ám chỉ càng là người có chức vị càng không sùng đạo, và thậm chí trở nên suy đồi, bại hoại đạo đức.

Ví dụ

Well, people often joke about being nearer to church and farther from God. But let's, for a moment, imagine a minister of religion, in charge of a large congregation, who is unaware of Easter or when it comes. Hapless (không may), Heaven help him!

Our politicians, statesmen, religious leaders, vendors, street dwellers (cư dân) and everyone in-between claim to belong to one church or group of belief systems, yet here we are as a people in this place and at this time in our history. Another well-known proverb is “Nearer the church, further from God.” Yet again, if these words do not float in and out of your mind in our current situation, you too may be a robot of your particular tribal group identification.

She, at one time, resided in the chapel house; but the adage (ngạn ngữ), Nearest the church, farthest from God, was not appropriate in her cane; for, in those days she not only attended the chapel (nhà thờ nhỏ) when scarcely able; but when unable to do so, she would stand near the chapel door and listen with the utmost devoutness (tận tâm) and eagerness (say mê) to the proceedings within, observing, "I've heard many a good sermon (bài thuyết giáo) while standing listening outside."

Bài trước: "Whose time has come" nghĩa là gì?