Sitting in the shaker, salt contributes nothing to the meal, but shaken out on dinner, it enhances the flavor. Light, too, is not useful if it is not shining. The purpose of light is to shine in the darkness, to reveal what is unseen, to brighten our way. If we are filled with light, there will be no room for darkness in us. We fill our hearts and minds with things that honor God, and not things that draw attention to evil.
Parents have a tendency to give in too easily to the popular culture that entices teenagers.
But it's their responsibility to stand firm against things which erode a moral foundation. It's their job to protect children from the harmful effects of the darkness permeating the entertainment industry. It's their duty to teach children how to select the right things to watch and listen to. The third foundational issue is that we must be in the world, not of the world. Standing firm as parents means teaching children that one's lifestyle reflects what is inside one's heart.