Self identification

Is this legitimate? Can someone independently self identify themselves as a Christian? Or does that need to occur within a community and by a community?
Part of the problem comes from self defining what it means to be a Christian.  When we make this up for ourselves, there are no boundaries and any personal interpretation or twisting of the text happens. Obviously, the Orthodox church has a very definite answer for this question.  Another piece of this consideration is that of the place and meaning of baptism (see 1 Peter 3:18-22). As i have said in my previous post on baptism, we are baptized into the body of Christ, not as a mere personal statement about our faith but as a sacrament actually making us part of the body of Christ.
This reality about baptism then precludes a self identification as a Christian.  We are Christians because we have been baptized into the body of Christ, not because we simply claim to be.  Surely, our profession or taking on of the name of Christ is vital to our lives in Christ, but only secondary to baptism.
The other thought that occurred to me in this regard is that no other situation allows for self identification as a means of defining who we are.  A man can start painting pictures and call himself an artist, but this is merely something one "does", not "is".  When we get married, the church or the state says it is so, for example.  I cannot think of any area where self identification is legitimate.  I would love to hear some feedback on this question.