Apostle Dr. Paul Gitwaza, senior pastor of Zion Temple Celebration Centre, has criticized the practice of men kneeling while proposing marriage, describing it as unbiblical and urging Christians to avoid adopting what he called foreign cultural practices.
His remarks, made during a sermon and widely circulated on social media, focused on the increasingly popular custom of men kneeling to present engagement rings before marriage.
Gitwaza argued that kneeling should be reserved exclusively for God, saying the Bible teaches believers to bow only before God.
“One important thing many people do not know is that this practice has been popularized by those who serve Satan,” he said. “When a man kneels before a woman to put a ring on her finger, he places himself under another authority. That is why you see many marriages failing.”
He urged Christian men not to kneel during marriage proposals.
“Do not kneel before a woman. The Bible says we should kneel before God alone. This is not a practice Christians should adopt,” he said.
Citing the Book of Revelation, Gitwaza referred to the passage in which an angel prevents John from worshipping him, reminding him that worship belongs to God alone. He said the same principle should guide Christian relationships.
He also encouraged women to discourage men from kneeling when proposing marriage.
“If a man wants to kneel before you, tell him, ‘No, do not kneel before me. I am not God,'” he said.
Gitwaza further argued that kneeling during proposals is not part of Rwandan culture and warned against copying customs from other parts of the world without understanding their origins.
“First of all, this is not a Rwandan tradition. Where did we get it from?” he asked. “Please do not imitate everything you see Americans or Europeans doing.”
He also linked the practice to high divorce rates in Western countries, claiming that marriages founded on such customs are not guided by God but by “other spiritual forces.”
The remarks have sparked discussion on social media, where the practice of kneeling during marriage proposals has long generated mixed reactions. While many view it as a romantic expression of commitment, others argue that it is inconsistent with Rwandan cultural traditions or Christian teachings.
Kneeling during marriage proposals has become increasingly common in Rwanda in recent years, particularly among younger couples, often featuring as part of elaborate engagement celebrations shared on social media.
