I was baptised as a baby and I've never been a believer.
Well, from the historic Christian position, you were a believer. You stopped being a believer. If you were to one day return to Christianity, you wouldn't be converting as a first time Christian, but would be returning back to the faith which you received in your Holy Baptism.
Jesus tells us a story about a sower who went out into the fields to plant seeds. Some of the seeds were immediately picked up and eaten by the birds before it could take root. Some of the seeds began to take root, but were then choked out by thorns, thistles, and weeds killing them. And then some of the seeds took root, sprouted, and bore fruit.
Jesus tells us that the seed is the word of God, the word goes forth, sometimes it is plucked away by the devils (the birds), sometimes it begins to take root but is then chocked out by the burdens and worries of this life, and then sometimes the word takes root, grows, and bears fruit.
Sometimes when people receive the word, nothing happens. Other times it begins to take root, but is choked out. And then sometimes it takes root and matures and bears fruit.
You were baptized, and so the word was planted in you, and it wasn't wasteful or ineffective, it was given to you, and you received it. It's not that your baptism, as though God's word and grace, was ineffective. It's that for reasons which only you know, that faith was choked out, that the faith you had been given wasn't nourished, wasn't fed, wasn't watered, or something.
But from the historic Christian perspective, you very much were a believing Christian--even if you weren't cognizant of any of it.
Splashing water on a baby and saying a prayer is not being baptised by God. The minister is not God and it is not in his power to control God or direct God's grace.
Of course the minister has no power and can't direct God or His grace. But he's not. God Himself has staked His own name on His word, and His word here in Baptism. Neither the one being baptized or the one officiating the baptism has any power or is doing anything. It is God who is at work in Baptism, because it's His work. He isn't being directed or controlled--it is He who is willing and working through this means to accomplish His purpose. That is His revealed will and purpose, it is what He promised, and He doesn't go back on His word and promise. He is faithful.
Absolutely correct. It isn't.
-CryptoLutheran