If someone says that he is a Christian, I take him at his word unless his actions convince me otherwise. Although I may have serious doubts about his theology
If someone says that he is not a Christian, I also take him at his word.
That being said, there are some Churches, and yes, at one time I included the RCC among them, whose theology is so wrong that I do not think their members actually are taught how to accept Christ as their Saviour.
I still have problems with a lot of RCC theology. For instance, I don’t believe that the sacraments are necessary for salvation. Not even baptism.
And to me, that is your right.
Just as it is my right to believe that Sacraments are.
Understanding that if you believed as I do, you would be Catholic or if I believed as you do, I would not, gives us the ability to work together in the ways we need to, like the Pro-Life movement for example. We have common ground as Christians and therefore can work together.
And btw, it would be great if more people were “taken at their word” about being Christian.