HONESTY in Christian Science is not determined merely by one's actions, but primarily by one's entire mental outlook and ingredients of thought. The following statement by Mrs. Eddy on page 261 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" indicates highest honesty toward God and its practical results in human experience. There she states, "Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts."
In order that he may be entirely honest toward God, the Christian Scientist must allow true ideas full occupancy in his thoughts. He must hold fast to the scientific fact of Spirit's omnipresence, omnipotence, omniaction, and this he cannot do if he allows himself to dwell affirmatively even for a moment on the unideal, or drifts into thinking negligently, fearfully, untruly. Scientific thinking from the basis of divine Truth constitutes highest honesty; and, needless to say, the practice of this quality, as understood in Christian Science, includes scrupulous honesty in all human affairs, relationships, and business contacts.
To the new student of Christian Science who has hitherto agreed unquestioningly with the evidence of the physical senses, the question as to what constitutes honesty may at times appear perplexing. Is it honest for him to deny a headache if he appears to have one? If he should be having to combat some physical or moral discord he may think that the old sense of honesty requires him to identify himself with what he regards as his fear, his illness, his sorrow, and so forth. But this mistaken sense of identification with error would blind him to his true identity as a child of God, and prevent him from demonstrating it. Acquiescence with imperfection prolongs it; whereas Truth's exalting power lifts human thought above evil and corrects it as nothing else can.
