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.
When God declares that paganism has taken deep root in the churches, He is not only referring to a set of practices, and rituals that have been adopted; He is mostly referring to the philosophies that drive the actions and the thought processes of the multitudes which in turn results in concepts and belief systems that are contrary to the scriptures.
We would observe in our first passage that closely associated with the idolatry of the Ephesians, were the philosophers, whose teachings, and ideologies were the bedrock foundation of all that was being done in Ephesus. Thus, the pagan belief systems of that city, driven by the many philosophers, ultimately becomes the springboard for all of the idolatrous practices Paul observed.
But the effect of paganism on Christian teaching is far deeper, and is more extensive and far reaching than mere externals. It affects the concepts and the perspectives some now hold to be doctrinal, in the various churches of Christendom, and thus for us to understand the extent of the problem, we must first dig into the philosophies that form the foundation of paganism.
Acts 17:22 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. 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.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of is word. God bless!