Pastors Should Like People

Affection should be a part of pastoral ministry. It was for Paul:

I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:8)

. . . being affectionately desirous of you . . . because you had become very dear to us. (1 Thess. 1:8)

Affection isn’t quite identical to kindness or even love. In these verses, for instance, affection involves yearning (Phil. 1:8), desire, and dearness (1 Thess. 1:8).