I think, like Joseph has said, it depends on how you view God. But when you talk of fear, can I ask, what would you be afraid of? Of God punishing you? Of hell? Of God's disapproval? How would this affect your behavior? Is fear of God's wrath the reason why you treat others with love and compassion? Fear is a powerful motivator, there is no doubt about that. But I think God, if indeed you are experiencing God as a physical (or not so physical) being, wouldn't need to resort to the tactics used by thugs and dictators to achieve her goals (if goals she has).
One of my favorite Bible versus is 1 John 4:8 - whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. Read what you will in that, but I tend to think that God, however you experience her, is love not fear.