Finding Jesus at the Margins
A Feature Review of
The Justice of Jesus: Reimagining Your Church’s Life Together to Pursue Liberation and Wholeness
Joash P. Thomas
Paperback: Brazos Press, 2025
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Reviewed by Jonathan P. Walton
Jesus’s ministry had no line between addressing the physical and spiritual needs of all that he encountered. And yet, the western church sits too often on either side with their money and butts firmly planted in these two camps with supposedly sound theological arguments as to why the other side is wrong. Joash P. Thomas takes the line away, explains why it was put there, and how the kingdom could come more fully if we would do the good, hard work of living with Jesus at the center – not the idols that persist in our hearts, households and the halls of our Christian institutions.
This book is a testimony and a testament that when you have an encounter with Jesus and say yes to following him then you can leave entrenched idols behind and receive and reflect the wonders of the early church in our current world.
Words from The Justice of Jesus: Reimagining Your Church’s Life Together to Pursue Liberation and Wholeness could not be more necessary and relevant for a western church in need of a clear, accessible picture of the risen Jesus that used his power, privilege and position to center the marginalized, elevate those pressed down, and liberate the oppressed and the oppressor with truly good news for all. It is also exceptionally pertinent for a church from the global south to not be enamored or deceived by the post-colonial powers that seek to demean, destroy or dominate the religious landscape with a gospel that is cheap, shallow and thin.
The gospel that Joash preaches, teaches and models in the writing of this book and the vignettes of his life explain clearly and accessibly is costly, wonderful, and faithfully ecumenical in ways that build authentic community and reflects the renewal Christ intended.
The book is divided into three parts with three chapters each:
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Part I: Cheap Justice Versus the Justice of Jesus
- Why Justice Seems so Antithetical to the Western Church
- The True Cost of Discipleship
- How Church Today are Prioritizing Jesus
- Decolonizing our Theology
- Decolonizing our Communities
- Decolonizing our Budgets
- Prayer
- Advocacy
- Partnership
Part II: Decolonizing the Western Church
Part III: How the Local Church Can Prioritize the Justice of Jesus
Each chapter does a masterful job of weaving sincere reflection, embodied theology, and practical ways that individuals and institutions that are deconstructing and decolonizing can do the work of reconstructing a fruitful, liberative witness. The pages are full of tweetable quotes, honest vignettes and diverse illustrations of what it could look like to seek and follow Jesus of Nazareth.
There were many passages that had me nodding my head, but the ones that had me say “amen” out loud the most were the critiques coupled with real-life illustrations and then a kind invitation to an evangelism that is not a bait and switch. Joash makes a case that the teachings of Jesus, for two millennia, have been rooted in proximate relationship, not distant charity, and prioritizes prayer with, not just prayer for our marginalized neighbors.
These nuggets are priceless and Joash’s ability to see people like the owner of his local coffee shop, victims of sexual exploitation and violence, and congregations on five continents with the eyes of Christ is exceptionally valuable. And he should charge extra for his notes in the back of the book and references throughout because they are diverse, faithful voices that western church needs to hear. He is showing us how to decolonize theology as he is doing his theology and that mix of teaching and modeling, describing and demonstrating is a gift I received gratefully.
All of what Joash was writing began with a rigorous interrogation of his own faith, background, and cultural milieu. He is not giving a secondhand account or recounting of someone else’s journey. He is explaining to us in great detail the journey that he is on and the steps he’s taken to arrive at this point. I am convinced that perspective is beyond necessary for the church in the west precisely because of this. So many faithful and frustrated followers of Jesus and the jaded, compromised pastors who lead them need a fresh expression of the faith they confess. This is the book for both of them because the problem clearly is not the individual, but the ideologies that deceive so many and destroy the image of God in countless communities here and abroad.
Perhaps you looked at Willie James Jennings’s works and were intimidated by the language and size of the book or you read Shane Claiborne and are trying to figure out your own irresistible revolution in 2025. Maybe you are enamored with Grace Lee Boggs, Martin Luther King, Jr., or the writings of Mother Teresa. Or perhaps your library is full of David Platt, Paul Washer and Voddie Bachum. Or maybe you don’t know who any of these people are and you just want to know what Jesus says about you and your neighbor who sits outside and below the systems and structures that benefit the powerful, the popular and the propped up. Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum of belief and practice, I wholeheartedly recommend this book, because it is centered on the teachings of Jesus for the world we live in and the incessant problems of today. Get a group to go through it together, and pass it on to your pastor or faith community leader with a humble, open-handed, bold call to meet Jesus at the margins because that’s where he said he would be.
I say that, not just because I think it’s a good idea, but because that’s what I am going to do. And just like our High Priest Jesus and this deacon and priest-in-training, Joash P. Thomas, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I am going to live out the great commandments, the great commission and carry the cross intended for me. This book helped me to do just that and I believe it will do the same for you.
Jonathan P. Walton
Jonathan P. Walton is a writer, speaker, and facilitator at the intersection of faith, justice, and emotional health. He leads Beauty and Resistance Cohorts, writes The Crux on Substack, and is a senior resource specialist for InterVarsity USA focusing on political discipleship and civic engagement. He has written five books, including Twelve Lies that Hold America Captive and Beauty and Resistance (November 2025). He has been featured in Red Letter Christians, Christianity Today, Outreach Magazine, Christians for Social Action and more. Follow him at Instagram, @jonathanpanwalton.
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