Apostle Paul wrote, "work out your own salvation, with fear and trembling."

The "work out your own salvation" meant that you are the one who should choose on how you worship God, not a preist, not a rabbi, nor any other religious leader.

However, he didn't leave it at that. The "with fear and trembling" meant that you should seriously consider what God says before you choose your path. An "anything goes" attitude doesn't cut it. The Bible is a pretty good reference on understanding what God requires of us.

Living life in fear sounds like a pretty crappy way to live, as does the prison style attitude.

It's the same kind of fear you have for your father. The fear of dissapointing him. Our relationship with God is very much like the relationship those have with a loving, protecting, and yes even punishing when you do wrong father. The ideal dad.

I think perhaps the meaning of 'fear' has shifted since that translation was written? I think it means to have respect and reverance of something much more powerful than you. I started flying gliders four years ago, and still go to the airport 'with fear and trembling' of being hit by a winch cable, landing aircraft, or propellor - being in 'fear' of being hit by a landing aircraft means that I'll ALWAYS look for them before entering the runway, even when I know all our aircraft are on the ground.