Paul did not adapt to the "cultural" customs when preaching to various people groups so much as he followed their "religious" customs, as long as they were not in violation of God's laws. Paul would not dare break any laws of Christ in order to please any man, yet he did accommodate himself to all men, but he did it lawfully according to God's Laws, to gain some. So we cannot use this passage to fill the secret desires of our flesh and wear certain clothes or hats, we cannot use it to make excuses to go to the clubs, we cannot use this verse to listen to worldly music, and the list goes on. These things are not 'religious' in nature they are 'cultural'. Also Paul set aside any personal prejudices or opinions in order not to hinder the gospel message. We are not to look like, or be like, the culture around us, we are to look and act different. Being all things to all people was and is a reference to willingly giving up our Christian freedoms in order not to be a stumbling block to anyone. As an example; If someone feels they cannot eat meat on Friday and I am preaching to them on a Friday, even though I have freedom in Christ to eat meat on that day I would refrain from it so as not to put a divider between them and myself, in order that the gospel message might be heard. Christian freedom was not designed for our pleasure but for God's...therefore we get Romans 15:1-3 "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself..."
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