Then you quote two of the verses:
Acts 11:26b ....The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
And you say: Sorry Hank, but your line of reasoning here seems to be based on nothing but historical anachronism.
Do you have a reading comprehension problem? "The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch," does not say, "a person ought to be a Christian." (Most commentaries believe the term Christian used in Antioch was a term of derision., by the way.)
Also, "if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed," does not say, "a person ought to be a Christian." In fact, the words do not even say that a person is a Christian but only that they bare that name and could even be a Muslim mistaken for a Christian who then suffered as one. (I know this is not what it means, but it doesn't mean one is supposed to be a Christain either.)
If Christians were really children of God, they would not do and say so many things that bring disrepute to thier Father's Word.
Do you really think Jesus came to found a religion. Organized religion hated Jesus in His day, and everything Jesus said and did was a repudiation of organized religion. It was organized religion (the one that followed the Bible) that crucified Jesus. If He should come today, it would be that organized religion that bears His name (and claims to follow the Bible) that would hate and crucify Him.
Hank
It depends on what I'm reading. Perhaps you missed my point about historical anachronism.
You stated that there is not one verse of Scripture that says a person "ought to be a Christian". That statement is true, but it's a little like saying that there is not one verse of Scripture that says a person ought to drive a Mercedes.
Anyway, I hope you will pardon me if I praise God that I bear that name.
Cordially,