What is the ruling on a Muslim saying, "I am a Christian"?

The Shaykh : Do you want to record your words or not? If you do not want it recorded, we will not record it.
The child: It is up to you; record it.
Abu Layla : You once asked him, "O Shaykh, are you a Muslim?" and he said, "No, I am a Christian."
The child: Me?

The Shaykh : That is why we came; we did not come to record your words.
Abu Layla : Yes, and I am reminding you, and I love to hear fromThe Shaykh : There is no danger in this word.
The child: Me.
Abu Layla : All right, what if someone else said it?

The Shaykh : Let us suppose that someone other than you said it, not you. Is it permissible for a Muslim to say, "I am a Christian"?
The child: No.

The Shaykh : What is the ruling on one who is a Muslim and says, "I am a Christian"? He becomes a disbeliever, an apostate from his religion; and just as you heard fromThe Shaykh : May Allah reward him with good. If there is an Islamic ruling regarding a Muslim who apostatizes from his religion, his neck is cut, and this has a detailed ruling in the books of the scholars, of course. But this word is not permissible for a Muslim to say, ever, even in a moment of anger, saying, "I am a Christian, I am not a Muslim." I seek refuge in Allah. The honor of the Muslim in this worldly life is his religion. And peace be upon you.