An extended review of a 2025 book by Joash Thomas
Note: Our print issue contains a shorter version of this review. Faith Today welcomes your thoughts on any of our reviews. We also welcome suggestions of other Canadian Christian books to review: Contact us.
Brazos Press, 2025. 192 pages. $22 (e-book $20, audio $17)
It’s not an exaggeration to say that a debate is raging in the Western world. Indeed, this debate is so furious that it continues to tear our society apart, and Christians from every theological tradition and background are affected. The debate concerns justice. In what way is justice something our society should pursue, and what role should Christians take in this cause?
This core question – one that is quite contentious depending on the audience – is the subject to which Joash Thomas provides his voice in this book. Thomas – who currently resides in Hamilton, Ont., as a public theologian and minister within the Diocese of St. Anthony in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches – grew up in India within St. Thomas Christianity, an ancient church tradition that traces its roots all the way back to St. Thomas the Apostle.
In The Justice of Jesus, Thomas outlines what it might look like for the Church to truly seek the way of Jesus, a way that is not only spiritual liberation from sin and death, but is physical liberation from all oppression and injustice, whether it be racial, economic, social, political or theological.
Yet many in the Western Church balk at this, which brings Thomas to ask, “Shouldn’t we as Christians be the first to jump out of our seats when we hear of anyone in need of justice? Why this resistance to something that is so close to the heart of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ?”
The Justice of Jesus is structured in three parts with an introduction and afterword. In the first part, Thomas focuses upon the question of why justice is such a controversial topic for so many Christians in the West. Here, the author discusses Western theology, especially the spiritualization of the gospel, as well as colonialism and how this has contributed to our reticence to prioritize justice, yet he also intersperses numerous encouraging stories of churches across the world that are more holistic in their mission.
The second part outlines three areas where the Western Church can decolonize: theology, community and budgets. Finally, in part three, Thomas explores how churches can bring the justice of Jesus to the forefront of their work through prayer, advocacy and partnership both locally and globally.
In each chapter Thomas brings his experience and immense knowledge as a minister, theologian and an advocate for justice, not just in diagnosing the problem, but in providing many examples of individuals, churches and ministries that cast a hopeful vision for the future.
For example in his chapter on advocacy the author reflects upon a meeting with a United States congressman and a lead advocate. Due to the rapport this advocate built, the congressman agreed to support a bill aiming to protect victims of sexual violence in Central America.
The Justice of Jesus is replete with just such stories, such as a successful fundraiser across Canadian churches to raise money in support of rescue operations for those exploited in the Philippines ($550,000 was raised).
Throughout my studies and writing I have had the privilege to read and reflect on many works that focus on similar subjects as The Justice of Jesus: books on economics, the role of community, racial justice, political and social involvement, the importance of decolonizing church theology and practices – yet in all honesty nowhere else have I encountered a book that provides such a holistic, poignant, convicting and deeply hopeful and practical vision as Thomas does here.
I truly recommend this book to anyone within or even outside Christianity, who seek a church that cares for its most vulnerable neighbours and who desire a world where Christians east and west, north and south, live out their identity as the people of God.
Thomas has provided the Church with a gift here, and he is right that it is long past time for the Western Church to open its eyes and doors to the beauty of diversity that is Christianity across the world, to learn from global Christians, to partner with them in the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a gospel that is truly and fully good news for all who are oppressed, marginalized, forgotten and longing for the justice of Jesus.
Editor's note: We love our reviewers, but we don’t always agree. You won’t either, maybe especially in the Bestsellers and Roundup sections. Do let us know what you think. Sample chapters of most books can be viewed at Books.Google.ca and Amazon.ca. Faith Today earns a small commission when people make purchases using our links to Amazon.ca.