Acts 17: 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Before we study anything about paganism entering the church, it is imperative that we refer to history, as it pertains to those incremental insinuations that took place over the years. The adversary of God and man employs the principle of gradualism in most of his incursions into the church.
As a general rule, devils avoid startling persons into being alerted, preferring that proverbial slow-boil approach by which the frog becomes acclimated to the increasing heat of the boiling water. Thus, as he gets more and more accustomed, and comfortable to the heat, the frog is slowly cooked to an untimely death and he is never awakened to what exactly did him in.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 717] The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things.
Acts 17:23 For as I passed by and beheld your devotions I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!