Nope...Anyone can call themselves Christians...
But you also say, "denominations are not the church." What are denominations, but groups of Christians?
Denominations are groups of people who call themselves Christians but are in fact made up of Christians and non Christians...It is only the Christians in a denomination who are the church, the Body of Christ...
Denominations (or Communions, so as to include the non-Protestant groups) are the Church.
There is no Church...There are churches...
One particular Communion may not be able to say that it, and it alone, is the Church--but no particular Communion is without some claim to being part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
There is no catholic, apostolic church...
Actually, I said 'called Christian'--as in, indirect object. I deliberately left who called people "Christian" open, so as to include all possible answers (including the ones that God calls 'Christian,' i.e., Christ-like).
Denominations are groups of people who call themselves Christians but are in fact made up of Christians and non Christians...It is only the Christians in a denomination who are the church, the Body of Christ...
The Parable of the Tares definitely militates against that particular viewpoint.
There is no Church...There are churches..There is no catholic, apostolic church....
You must not believe the Apostles' Creed, then. "I believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints...."