Example Of Ethos Pathos Logos

Introduction

In all ways, Jesus did it best. When he spoke to the crowds, he was incredibly respectful despite how they treated him. Jesus could turn all eyes to God, no matter what the subject matter was, making him the first and best evangelist. His unapologetic attitude in proclaiming himself to be the Son of God meant people either trusted or despised him, and his solid, core-cutting truth drew thousands. Emulating this style to address those who don't yet believe is to implement a dose of rhetoric into the otherwise lackluster argument for Christianity. Similarly, Ray Comfort uses these methods to evangelize to total strangers using the sensitive topics of the Holocaust and abortion, showing patience and respect. Other than the work of Christ himself, Comfort gives a modern-day model to dissect of how to effectively use the three types of rhetoric to make a claim for the Gospel.

Three Types of Rhetoric

Ethos

Ethos is the root from which the word “ethics” stems, and is used most commonly in arguments, as it helps make a claim for the credibility of the author. It coincides with the urge to prove oneself in an intellectual debate. A good example is the preface a pastor uses before he gives his sermon, where he declares his stance on an issue and then begins to preach. How he feels about the matter at hand will ultimately shape how his congregation feels, so he must state that he is a fellow follower of Christ and is going through exactly what everyone else is, making him a trustworthy expert on the topic. “You may be new to Harvest,” begins pastor Michael DuBard as he addresses the congregation at Harvest Bible Chapel. “…You may think, ‘Why in the world do people believe this stuff [about Jesus]?’.... I wanna start today telling you why I believe the gospel. The reason I believe the gospel is that the gospel answers every question about life that I’ve had.” (DuBard