Simple. A person identifies himself as a Christian believer. For example, mormons. Mormons identify themselves as christian believers, yet they are dissuaded from having a personal relationship with Christ.
There are rules and standards that are NOT the same as yours, Bill. You need to wrap your arms around it. Whether the belief is efficacious is a matter of doctrine and belief. If someone simply says he or she is a christian believer--or even has a personal relationship with Jesus--doesn't make it so.