Paul wrote Timothy, Drink a little wine for your frequent illness. Unbelievers take this to mean that drinking is not bad at all. How can we explain this statement?

Unang-una, dapat talagang i-review what kind of drinking is bad.

The first miracle of the Lord was to turn water into wine. And do not forget that wine was a permanent fixture of the Lord’s supper and of every self-respecting supper in the Middle East and even in Europe.

But you’ve got to distinguish between wine and liquor. Ang wine ay katas ng ubas. Maliit ang percentage ng alcohol.

Liquor is what I think Christians should avoid dahil nakalalasing. Kaya sabi ni Paul kay Timothy sa 1 Timothy 5:23, dahil laging sira ang tiyan mo, mabuti pa, huwag ka lang inom nang inom ng tubig, baka may mga butete na yan at kung anu-ano pa.

Drink wine instead. Pero hindi naman siya pinaglalasing. Remember na nag-prescribe siya kay Timothy for medical purposes, hindi para paglasingin yung tao.