Reformed?

I am reformed. I say this without any hesitation nor any qualms about potential disagreements. I'm even willing to call myself (God help us!) a Calvinist, even though this is possibly the biggest buzzword in the Christian faith (maybe alongside 'woman pastors'). The question is, then, why do so many people disagree with what it teaches, and moreover why would I associate myself with a theological system so divisive?
To address the first question, I fear the answer might not go over well with many. I think one big reason, though not nessarily a universal or only reason, so many people avoid Calvinism is because, deep down, they don't want to imagine a God Whose number one priority is His own glory. A common theme amongst evangelicals is that God is madly in love with us, that He loves everyone more than anything else, and He just wants to make them happy. This, I fear, is a problem, because that god is not the God of Scripture. A God whose primary focus is anything other than Himself could not be an infinite God (see first Thought of the Day). That being said, I would say that many have a problem with Calvinist doctrine merely because it proclaims a God that doesn't hold humans as His highest concern. This rubs people the wrong way. In a time where God is frequently portrayed as nothing more than a cosmic therapist, homeboy, lover, or self-help guide, to hear that God has a priority that doesn't involve what we want sounds awful. Therefore I think many choose to shy away from this doctrine, in favor of one that has man more directly involved. Now I'm not saying that all non-Calvinists think this way; by no means. However, I do think many people turn away the idea of Calvinism because it is God-centered rather than man-centered. Not to hear them say it, of course. And there are absolutely non-Calvinists who love and seek after God and His truth, and find a doctrine other than the Reformed one to be right. I just see many people denying Calvinism for less than noble reasons, ie. because it presents a God focused on Himself rather than us.

And yet, that is the God I have to believe in.
If I followed a God that wanted most of all for my heart (which is sinful [Jer. 17:9]) to recieve its desires (which are sinful [Gen. 6:5]), then that God would not by any means be a perfect god. And certainly not a biblical one! I trust a God, the God, Who is in complete control of all things, and desires most of all to be glorified. I trust a God who ordained that the chief end of man would be glorifying Him, and purposed that Christ's salvation gift at one time glorifies God and fulfills man's created purpose. And this God doesn't wait for sinful, God-hating (Rom. 8:7) human beings to suddenly decide to start hating sin, take up their cross, and love God, but rather steps into our pitiful and radically depraved existence and creates faith, transforms hearts, and saves souls. Glory 2 God!