Republicans are constantly working to kill SNAP (food stamps) and have used every excuse in the book as to why it doesn’t work, including their favorite, which is that the majority of the unemployed adults choose not to work just so that they can freeload of the system.

They use this strategy so much that they even claim it comes from the Bible. According to Wonkblog, Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) became the third GOP member on Tuesday to refer to the biblical passage Thessalonians 3 – 10 as the reason food stamps should be cut.

While speaking at the House hearing on nutrition this week, Arrington claimed that God demands lawmakers show benevolence with one exception.

“He says even when we were with you we give you this rule, ‘If a man will not work he shall not eat.’ And he goes on to say ‘We heard that some of you are idle.’ I think that every American, Republican or Democrat wants to help the needy among us. And I think it’s a reasonable expectation that we have work requirements. I think that gives more credibility, frankly, to SNAP,” Arrington declared.

To enforce a strict work policy for social benefits may not be as easy as it sounds, it’s more than just people refusing to work because they can get free stuff.

Most of the unemployed SNAP recipients can’t get a job, because either they are mentally ill, have just aged out foster care or because there are no jobs.

“No one is suggesting that people who don’t want to work should get benefits,” Protas, vice president of public policy at MAZON, told Wonkblog. “There are stereotypes about SNAP recipients and myths about the program … that are very harmful to people in need who could take advantage of it.”