This past Sunday during the morning sermon, our pastor was talking about sin.

He was a-gin it. If you are an Andy Griffith fan, you understand.

As he was making the point that all sins are evil in the eyes of God — the Bible says gossip and murder are on the same level — he also made the comment that there are sins that are worse “in his book.” There are things that just disgust us to our core.

I agree with him on what he said was the worst, if it were up to him — child sexual abuse.

It’s everywhere, it seems. Article after article on people who have been arrested across the country and in Mississippi for possession of child pornography or worse.

Now, shift mental gears just a bit with me …

Halloween is just a couple of weeks away. The crew under my roof has already planned costumes, candy and fun for our church’s Trunk-R-Treat get-together. We’ve done a bit of decorating, and I’ve already eaten too much candy.

What in the wide, wide world of sports does this have to do with the child abuse discussion?

Costumes.

Every year it seems someone tries to up the ante on how far outside the boundaries of decency one can go with the creation of Halloween costumes for children.

If you are an adult who wants to go out to a party dressed as a “sexy goldfish” — yes, that is an actual option — then you go right ahead. That’s your option.

But if you want to dress your child as a “sexy” anything at all, you’re going too far. Children should never, and I repeat that admonition — never — be the object of sexual interest.

What happened to the “good old days” of going trick-or-treating dressed as a sci-fi character, children’s show hero, puppy or such? Did those ideas go out the window with the costumes I wore as a kid?

One year I went as a California Raisin, because all you really needed was a large black trash bag and the lyrics to “Heard it Through the Grape Vine.”

One year I went as Oscar the Grouch, because all you really needed was a large black trash bag and a metal trash can.

One year I went as a dirty, poor hobo, because all you needed was dirty clothes with holes in them.

Oh, and one year I went as a bag of trash. Because, well …

I quit going as items involving trash bags when I was about 10, I think. Mom said trash bags were getting too expensive.

I usually just go as an older fat guy in jeans and a T-shirt. It’s effective. People are frightened.

I don’t care if you celebrate Halloween or not. I don’t care if you like horror movies or hate candy or love decorations or hate the whole rigamarole and can’t wait to get your house gussied up for Christmas.

Just please, please, please don’t dress your children or grand-children as “sexy” anything.

It’s not cute. It’s not funny.

And it’s not safe.

This is a subject I wish no one even needed to comment on, ever. Unfortunately it is.

Let’s not add to the problem intentionally. Get rid of that trash.

Brett Campbell can be reached at brett.campbell@dailyleader.com or 601-265-5307.