Approximately 12½ million African people were captured and shipped to North America as slaves from 1525 to 1866. An estimated 2 million did not survive the voyage. It is considered the most heinous blight on this country’s history. Americans don’t like to talk about it. We don’t even want to think about it, but it happened; it happened for 341 years. Because of this ugly part of our past, we think of enslavement as evil. That’s understandable. But when we read in the Bible the call to be slaves of Christ we face in our minds a major conflict. Is slavery an evil thing or is it a good thing? There is no question that trapping people like animals and dragging them away from their homes, committing them to a life of servitude is pure evil. (Watch the movie “Amazing Grace” about abolition in Britain in the late 1700s.) Prejudice, despising a race of people or category of people just because of something as ridiculous as the color of their skin, is pure evil. But that is not the same as becoming a willing servant of Christ. A bond-servant is a servant by choice. The Hebrews had slaves but they could only have them for six years. Then they had to set them free. However, there was an exception in Exodus 21:5-6 where a slave, if he loved his master, could refuse his freedom and stay in servitude. He was then known as a bond-slave or bond-servant. Paul often referred to himself as a bond-servant of Christ, Romans 1:1. So did James (James 1:1), Peter (2 Peter 1:1), Jude (Jude 1:1) and John (Revelation 1:1). What did these early church leaders mean by calling themselves bond-servants? They meant they served Christ as if He owned them and did so willingly. How about the rest of us? Are we owned by Christ? “You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23. If Christ redeemed you, bought you, with His blood you are His. You are free to quit serving Him anytime, but I wouldn’t recommend it.