I am still waiting for WELS Q&A to answer my question on whether or not we Lutherans baptize solely upon command of God as Luther clearly taught in the Large Catechism. I will post their reply if and when I receive it.
In the meantime, I found a WELS Q&A that states that, as confesssional Lutherans, we baptize infants with no infallible expectation that the child will receive the gift of faith and that we simply do what he told us to do.
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Q: Given that infants are both sinful and have the ability to have saving faith as a result of baptism, is it possible for an infant to resist the grace offered in baptism and reject Christ and His atoning work somehow? Part of what inspires my question is hearing the testimonies of individuals who were baptized as infants, yet by their later words and actions displayed to everyone, including themselves, either no interest in spiritual things or even outright hostility until some future incident, however dramatic or ordinary, where they seem to appreciate relevance and power of the Gospel for the first time. This is often accompanied by a sudden and radical change in moral attitudes and lifestyle choices.
Those individuals themselves often insist that it was through that particular incident that they savingly believed and became citizens of heaven, and they reject any notion of a very imperfect but saving faith that they had since their baptism.
While I do not reject the power of Christian baptism, I am inclined to agree with the convictions these people have about their own personal redemption, however I would appreciate hearing your perspective as well.
A: We do not teach an irresistible grace or an irresistible working of the Holy Spirit through the gospel in word and sacrament. We therefore acknowledge that it is conceivable or sadly possible that an infant might somehow despise the gift of faith truly promised, offered, and given in baptism. On the other hand, we are well aware of the kind of confidence Galatians 3:26-27 expresses: "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." So we express confidence that the child believes but ultimately leave the matter with God and simply do what he told us to do--and trust his promises. Since Scripture does not provide additional information on this subject we hesitate to say any more. What Martin Luther wrote in his Large Catechism [under Infant Baptism, paragraph 52ff]is perhaps the best and clearest way to state what we believe: "Further, we say that we are not so much concerned to know whether the person baptized believes or not; for on that account Baptism does not become invalid; but everything depends on the Word and command of God. . . when the Word is added to the water, Baptism is valid, even though faith be lacking. For my faith does not make Baptism, but receives it. . . Even though infants did not believe, which, however, is not the case, yet their baptism as now shown would be valid, and no one should rebaptize them.
. . . How dare we think that God's Word and ordinance should be wrong and invalid because we make a wrong use of it? Therefore I say, if you did not believe, then believe now and say thus: The baptism indeed was right, but I, alas! did not receive it aright. . . Thus we do also in infant baptism. We bring the child in the conviction and hope that it believes, and we pray that God may grant it faith; but we do not baptize it upon that, but solely upon the command of God. Why so? Because we know that God does not lie. I and my neighbor, in short, all men, may err and deceive, but the Word of God cannot err."
The people whom you mention, who have significant religious experiences and thereafter give evidences of saving faith in Christ, are not wrong to thank and praise God for the Holy Spirit's saving work later in their lives. They are wrong if they despise or belittle their baptisms, however, since God's command and promises connected to baptism remain firm.
