Does 2 Timothy 3:5 Forbid Associating with Non-Spirit-Filled Christians?
No.
2 Timothy 3:5:
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
You might be confused because you think, “Denominational Christians have a form of godliness but deny its power, so isn’t this a plain statement that I should avoid such people?”
Fortunately, the context of the passage makes it absolutely clear that Paul is talking about wicked unbelievers, not powerless fellow Christians!
2 Timothy 3:2-8:
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Now that doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to surround yourself with close friends who don’t believe in the power of God and the working of the Holy Spirit as you do. Attending a non-Spirit-filled church as a Spirit-filled person is an exceptionally bad idea because their unbelief will probably rub off on you more than your faith will rub off on them, and you’ll be outnumbered. (The lunacy of thinking you’re going to convert such a church into a Holy Ghost church is amply discussed elsewhere in this book.) You become like those you hang around, for better or for worse, as Scripture indicates. Immorality and anger will rub off on you, but so will positive qualities!
1 Corinthians 15:33:
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
A more modern translation would be, “Don’t be deceived. Bad company ruins good morals.”
Proverbs 22:24-25:
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Proverbs 13:20:
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
So choose your friends carefully!
Proverbs 12:26:
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
The New King James Version of Proverbs 12:26 reads, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Young’s Literal Translation reads, “The righteous searcheth his companion, And the way of the wicked causes them to err.” In fairness to the translators, this is a difficult verse because it consists of only 6 Hebrew words which become 17 English words in the KJV, 16 in the NKJV and 15 in the YLT!
I have casual friends who are not Spirit-filled, but they are not the people I would go to for advice if I’m in a pinch.
You will become like your close friends. If you hang around unbelief, unbelief will hang around you.
However, you can and should associate with people other than your close friends. The verse in question does not prohibit associating with non-Spirit-filled people! In fact, avoiding such people would cut off many valuable ministry opportunities where you could introduce someone to healing and the Holy Spirit, and even to the Lord!