It sounds like you were violating the etiquette of Meeting for Worship,
No I was waiting on the Lord as scripture commands and even their gatherings have that waiting understanding. The violation, was that they were in the flesh many of them, and not in the spirit and in their order is man made .
which includes the ideas that 1) the Meeting is not the place to argue with each other;
First of all, there was no real argument, just sharing a truth, another tried to stop it and i didn’t argue.
Secondly, when a person speaks in the gatherings as led by God, they are not intending to argue or dispute or have to judge anything. But you are not correct here, for sometime when the saints gather there will be spirit led discussions and even disputes over serious matters, there will also be judgement of things said by others, and correction , instruction and this can even get heated at times as we see in scripture,
“When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”...And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” *Acts 15)
“But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?” (Galatians 2:16)
"Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." ( 1 Corinthians 14:29-31)
“And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”" (Matthew 18:17)
“And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.” (2 Corinthians 12;21)
"Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake... This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." (Titus 1:9-11,13,14)
"But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." (2 Cor 11:12,13)
2) after a person speaks in the Meeting, everyone should sit in silence for a while and reflect on what has been said;
Not always, we read that even if a person is speaking and another has a revelation, the person speaking at that moment should be sensitive to the leading and hold his peace and give place to the other,
"If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." 9 1 Cor. 14:30,31)
Sometimes, if there is gainsayers among the meeting who speak false things, they need to be rebuked sharply (which means to cut them off in the middle of their talk).
"Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake... This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." (Titus 1:9-11,13,14)
sharply - ἀποτόμως apotómōs, ap-ot-om'-oce; adverb from a derivative of a comparative of G575 and τέμνω témnō (to cut); abruptly, i.e. peremptorily:—sharply(-ness).
ἀποτόμως, adverb (cf. ἀποτομία);
a. abruptly, precipitously.
b. tropically, sharply, severely [cf. our curtly]
and 3) no one speaker is supposed to dominate the Meeting.
I did not dominate any meeting and to speak more than once is not dominating. To quench the spirit is dominating by the one who tries to do this.
The practices of speaking from silence and of listening both to the Light in ourselves and the Light in others are practices that take a while to learn.
I had many years of this already and had been very familiar with waiting on the Lord in gatherings. I eagerly wait to hear the true body and the word and revelation in Christ. But when some speak fleshly carnal talk and error. This can deceive and hurt others, So believers should address these things and put the brethren in remembrance of things. By doing so they are a good minister. But today they are treated like irritants and bothersome people, sadly
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained." ( 1 Timothy 4:1-5)
It's a whole different religious culture, very different from most church group gatherings.
There is only one church way in Christ and all believers should seek to walk in Gods order. God is not the author of confusion but of peace as in all the churches of the saints. Paul also said,
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Cor 1:10)
In any case, I mentioned the Friends only as an example of a Christian assembly that don't have a "pastor king" and don't use the word "church" to describe their meeting houses.
I know and the original Quakers seemed to be more according to the word in their doctrine and order. But...
If you prefer an assembly
It has nothing to do with a preference. There is Gods way and command for the churches *1 Cor 14:26-38) and then there is mans ways and traditions of men that make the word of God of no effect. The choice is for all to make. Which one will they abide in?.
where you get to talk for long stretches,
Never my intention, to talk for a long time. That seems a subtle rebuke to try and imply that I want to be the main talker over all and seek to take over. this is not true. But there will be some among the body who do teach and not all are teachers. But all must give place and no man should think of himself more highly than he ought to think, seeing as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12) and a manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (1 Cor. 12:7). If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God, (1 Peter 4:10,11) if any man minister let him do it.
and where you get to have hearty, boisterous arguments,
the intent is not for this. But to do all things unto edifying.
then a Friends Meeting is probably not the best home for you.
If its not for me then its not for any christian. All believers should be able to gather in Christ and follow God's order. If not then there is a problem.
But sadly in most assemblies one man dominates over all and quenches the spirit in everyone, with his lecture format and preaching by the time clock and traditions of men that hinder body ministry. The very structure of many gatherings and the buildings they meet in fights against body ministry and the function of the church when gathered and the commandments of God (1 Cor14:26-38)They al sit facing forward seeing the back of each others heads and all eyes are drawn away to the one exalted man on a platform or so called "alter” there the one man (pastor often) takes over.
