I agree with you. I wasn’t familiar with the Prosperity Gospel until I picked up one of Joel O’Steen’s books. I made it about a quarter of the way through and recycled it, because the recurring theme of the book was not only “if you have enough faith, God will reward you financially,” but, more, “when I was young I wanted a big big house and I prayed about it and God gave it to me.” I find that approach to faith problematic as you do.

I also agree with you that the excerpt from his Time interview sounds great.

Sorry to be of no help.