Sheryl Crow famously sang in 1996 “If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad.” There’s a reason she is a singer appealing to the masses and not a gospel writer helping us to find the narrow way. We understand this intellectually and we are not likely to use a rational argument for how we should pray liturgy, organize Sunday School, or whether we should send happy birthday messages on the servants group chat.
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For rational (logos driven) arguments we have a tendency to appeal to a specific telos and explain why that telos is the best for that particular situation (People do whatever they want). However, we don’t always have a good logical reason for why we should do something. In fact, there are some things (like happy birthday messages on the servants group chat) that have zero logical justification. So how do we justify these things, and how is it that we can say “this is what we should do” even if there is no logical justification?
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Every happy birthday message that people get is a small reminder that they belong to a community that sees them, values them, and celebrates their existence. In a world increasingly driven by cold efficiency and digital distance, these simple messages become threads of warmth that weave us together. Think of the servant who opens their phone after a challenging day of ministry, only to find their inbox filled with genuine expressions of joy for their life. This isn't about logic - it's about nurturing the human spirit and fostering the kind of genuine connection that makes our service meaningful.
This justification uses emotional appeals by:
I've been hesitant to use this title for my assigned servants meeting talk because I generally shy away from pathos-driven explanations and justifications. It feels uncomfortable to suggest that the Christ we worship subscribes to a "make people feel better about themselves" mentality. Yet while overemphasizing any single aspect of Christ is dangerous, it's equally problematic to completely ignore a legitimate part of who He is. Though it may not be my natural inclination, I must acknowledge that the message of Christ is compelling not just because of who He is (ethos), or what He teaches us (logos), but also how He makes us feel (pathos)!
It is a good thing that Christ makes us happy. It is a good thing that we are comforted and encouraged by being members of a church community. When I sent a survey out to the servants, everyone had something positive to say about how people and events in their lives made them feel closer to God. In meeting the awesome God who was incarnate in the flesh, it helps to have icons of Christ that help us to see God in these people.
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“A friend told me recently of a little girl who was afraid when she woke up alone at night and frequently disturbed her parents by going along to them. But you are not alone,' the mother reassured her, Jesus is with you.' I know,' her daughter replied, but I want someone with skin on.' This heartfelt, vivid declaration echoes our own yearning. We find it so hard to live by faith alone, as we say . We too want someone `with skin on.'” - Sr. Ruth Burrows, The Essence of Prayer
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Now that we have identified that feelings in our faith are part of the experience, let’s explore where pathos in isolation can become pathologic. I’m particularly concerned about how nostalgia can become an idol when we rely too heavily on emotional experiences. When we chase feelings alone, we risk creating a faith built on shifting sands rather than solid rock. The danger lies in conflating our emotional memories of church experiences with authentic spiritual growth.
Consider how often we hear statements like "Church isn't the same as it used to be" or "I miss how things were before." While these sentiments are natural and valid, they can become problematic when they overshadow the present reality of our relationship with God. We might find ourselves worshiping our memories rather than the living God who meets us in the Eternal Present (The Mystery of Time).
We must assess whether we are falling into this pathos-centered faith by asking if:
This doesn't mean we should dismiss our emotional experiences or memories any more than we should dismiss a logical analysis of an important church matter. Rather, we need to ensure our emotional responses (pathos) are properly balanced with both sound understanding (logos) and our authentic identity as the Body of Christ (ethos) in our commitment to becoming like Him even when it’s not always clear what that even means (Apophatic Christology). A healthy spiritual life integrates all three rhetorical elements - emotion, logic, and communal identity - while preventing any single aspect from dominating our journey.
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