If you have grown up in the church then you probably have heard the idea about not causing another brother to stumble. It is the idea that we, as Christians, shouldn't do things around our fellow Christian brothers and sisters that might cause them to fall into a sinful lifestyle or to cave to sinful temptation.
I have heard it said that if you know something is an "issue" with another person, then don't put them in the situation where they might be tempted. Some examples include: 1. If they were an alcoholic and have been in recovery for a while, you don't want to take them out to a bar on their birthday. 2. If you know someone has had issues with sexual purity, then you probably don't want to take them clubbing...because we all know the kind of...well....clothing many women like to wear at clubs. Or maybe you don't. Let's just say, it is often the opposite of modest, leaving little to the imagination.
Those are the obvious, black and white issues, but what about the gray issues? Issues like...well...like violence, gore. What about the issues like magic (reading fantasy with magic, not actually doing magic-that isn't gray), or romantic scenes that imply a sexual encounter (though may not actually show/describe in the book)? What about the gray area of characters worshiping gods, or the like? There are probably hundreds of gray areas that many, many people disagree on. Are they okay, or are they wrong? Is it okay to write these "gray" areas and possibly allow another person to stumble because of something they read in your book?
So, we Christians can take EVERYTHING to the extremes, so let me talk about what I think this "causing a brother to stumble" means. This reference in the New Testament revolves around eating meat given to idols, and the conscience of some who still considered that wrong...even sinful. Paul explains if you don't ask, then don't worry about it, but if your brother tells you it was given to idols, then don't eat it. Not for your sake, but because the person who told you has an issue with it. If you eat it in front of him, then he may think it okay, but still feel bad about it. That is my understanding of it in a nutshell.
My first college was in a very conservative Bible college and this discussion came up. The discussion evolved into a heated argument to where the offended argued that if someone "remembers" his sinful days (bar and club hopping, living the life of debauchery) because someone is playing a worship song with a guitar and the guitar reminds him of those days, then the guitar should not be played at church. Well...I'm sure you can guess my attitude toward that idea. That is an issue with the heart of the one person. To not play an instrument in worship because one person has an issue with it, in my opinion, is ludicrous. The rest of the congregation worships just fine, even gets a better worship experience because of the guitar vs. a Capella. The same scenario happened when we discussed raising hands in worship. Someone said if you raising your hands in worship causes "me to stumble" then you shouldn't raise your hands. Again...ludicrous. That simply means the offended person is no longer worshiping God in music.
Anywhoo, that is my opinion on those two specific matters, but what about in writing. Well, I don't think we writers need to worry about that. I do tend to keep cussing, and sexual scenes out of my books (I have alluded to a romantic scene between a couple, though), but, to me, it is the same idea of a beautiful woman (or handsome man for you ladies) walking by, which you start thinking less than holy thoughts. Is it her/his fault because he/she walked by? or the idea of wearing perfume/cologne. Is it their fault that because they put the scent on that you start to think less pure because of the smell. That usually isn't the intention of people who wear cologne or perfume. They simply want to smell nice, not stink. Is it their fault that we decide to allow our minds to go to "darker" places than intended? No, it isn't.
In my opinion, it is the same with writing - at least in the gray areas of violence, gore, even the encounters that imply sex. We can write tasteful scenes in all of the above (and more) that do not give "too much visual" yet there will always be someone who allows themselves to "go off the deep end" in their thinking.
This can also be applied to using magic, worshiping gods, aliens, monsters, etc. It is not wrong to write about it and have characters who entertain these ideas (at least in my opinion) but there will always be people who tend to go overboard.
So, no, I don't think writing nongraphic scenes (of anything) warrant worry about causing another to stumble. Maybe on the graphic sex....definitely.....gore....maybe, but I would lean towards it being okay. Extreme violence, that too is okay, cussing...well...probably not such a good idea for a Christian audience. Really, though, it is up to the writer as to what their conscience tells them. If in doubt, maybe err on the side of caution and steer clear of the ideas that you find questionable.
Hope you enjoyed the read.