Why do we need to be careful how we do certain things around unbelievers?
We must be careful because the unbelieving world interprets actions through its own cultural lens. If believers handle certain practices without regard for those customs, unbelievers may totally misinterpret their actions and wrongly accuse them. Paul told the Corinthians to be careful how they handled such matters so the watching world would not misunderstand.
Les explains that Paul is writing to the Corinthian believers with their culture in view. In that day, and even today in the Middle East, an unveiled woman is open to verbal abuse, snide remarks, and various types of attack. A veiled woman, however, retreats into a world all her own, and men recognize she is not to be touched. So Paul tells the Corinthians to be careful how they handle this situation because the world around them looks at it a certain way; if they are not careful, unbelievers will misinterpret their actions and accuse them wrongly. Les says we face the same situation today in many areas: we have to be careful how we do certain things lest the unbelieving world totally misinterpret our actions and accuse us wrongly. He illustrates this with customs like men removing their hats for prayer or worship, and women covering their heads in that culture. He also notes that women today do not have to wear a veil or hat in church, but the principle is to avoid causing unbelievers to misunderstand.